The Charisma of Pokémon Personalities

In the past, I've written about certain Pokémon fans that other fans take to become fans of, as well as certain leaders within and externally linked to the world of Pokémon, and personalities found within that world. This post can be considered to be an offshoot of those three posts. Specifically for this post, I want to discuss the charisma or charm that is possessed by some real people who are linked to Pokémon. It's a neat characteristic for these various people.

The charisma or charm is evident among the people involved with Pokémon directly. Those who have seen Pokémon presentations from the past few years will no doubt recognize Tsunekazu Ishihara - the current President and CEO of The Pokémon Company - as the most important figure in them, whether or not he kicks things off. He becomes almost inseparable from them, and his charm is his current fundamental importance. The late Satoru Iwata had also had his connections to Pokémon as well as his social interactions, and he will be forever remembered for them as his "charm". They are captivating in their own ways.

Beyond their world is the world of those who play and become known for their efforts, and for them, their charisma or charm is their accomplishments. Aaron Zheng and Wolfey Glick represent the core series, while Brandon Tan represents Pokémon Go, certainly among others. If anything, other players want to identify with their similar accomplishments, as I've observed during a recent VGC happening for the main series and Brandon's tour in the past year. I'm sure that they've been a "guiding force" for the accomplishments of the other players and they would likewise revel in them, maintaining their charm or charisma. 

Then there is the realm of more common players or fans, but they may likewise possess their own charms or charisma. One of my friends, for example, has a notable (yet perhaps little-known) achievement in Pokémon Go, being the first Ace according to Silph League Arena rankings in my country. It would perhaps be a greater charisma if it was a little more well-known. Meanwhile, I myself as a fan of everything Pokémon and someone who expresses that in various ways (including cosplay), have built up my own charisma for others, whether fans or not. Whether it's my friend or me, we seem to possess that as well.

It is no secret that Pokémon is well-admired by many people around the world. But what may be just admired is the charisma or charm that certain people have, especially in relation to it. It spans the gamut from those who are technically involved to those who are exceptional in playing skills and even show off great things. On that note, it may just be a great thing to have as much as Pokémon has it in spades for all concerned.

One year ago: TCG, Order and Chaos

Two years ago: Artistic Routine

Three years ago: Pokémon Song, Indonesian Flavor

Multiple Pokédexes in Pokémon Go?

Recently, as part of the addition of Mega Evolution to Pokémon Go, the Pokédex interface was slightly updated to accommodate their inclusion as entries. The update involved the addition of a selector to the lower-right corner to switch between the regular Pokédex and one designed to keep track of Mega-Evolved forms. This led to an observer to take note of its potential and to make a conjecture that the selector could be used to implement different kinds of Pokédexes. It seems to be a fascinating conjecture, and therefore I've decided to flesh out the idea further in this post.

The observer conjectured that the Pokédexes could be related to the various attributes that Pokémon may possess. As part of the conjecture, the observer provided a mockup of the possible Pokédexes that could be included. Among them could be a Shiny Pokédex for all Pokémon possessing this form, Shadow and Purified Pokédexes - whether both being separate or together - to see which ones have been captured or not and purified or not, and a Costume Pokédex for all Pokémon that can possess attires of some sort, including each one as individual entries. These Pokédexes all have their own attributive spirit just like the current separate Mega Pokédex.

All these ideas can be reasoned rationally. While Shiny Pokémon are indicated in the regular Pokédex, they are not immediately evident by just looking at the main listing, and by having a separate Pokédex for this attribute, all Pokémon with this attribute, including ones that are only seen, can be examined at a glance. For Shadow and Purified Pokémon, as well as Pokémon with certain costumes, these are not present in the regular Pokédex (except as a plain number for Purified counts) and it would be helpful to see which ones are available at the moment or missing from one's collection. For all of these (and particularly the Shiny attribute), it would be helpful to separate their info from the common Pokédex, especially for Pokémon with many forms (example, Unown) that can now be potentially Shiny, and this would serve well for keeping track of things.

To these separate Pokédex ideas, I would add one more idea: a Lucky Pokédex. While it could be reasoned that the regular Pokédex is sufficient for this purpose, and even any entry in the other Pokédex ideas can indicate this as Lucky Pokémon are currently indicated, it would still be helpful to know this at a glance without checking separate entries individually, as with the other attributes as above. This would also achieve further separation of data that would be cluttered up otherwise within just the regular Pokédex. What all of these ideas have in common is that there is a great degree of clarity that can be gained with each separate Pokédex for each attribute.

These ideas may or may not be realized, but that is why they are called a conjecture, as a strong possibility of what could be realized based on what is available or present. At least, that was what became apparent to an observer regarding the way a different kind of Pokédex was realized in Pokémon Go, which in turn has the potential to be developed into yet other different kinds. As it stands, the observer had put out a neat conjecture, and therefore it warranted further explanation. In time, enough Trainers will perhaps consider it neat as well, which should be a good first step on the path of realization.

One year ago: Local Tailors and My Cosplay Costumes

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

Three years ago: Personalities

Returns Come and Go

As posts from years past indicate, today is a fairly special day. It was on this day three years ago that I formally returned to playing Pokémon Go, which has proven to not be a bad decision. For that reason, it becomes worthwhile to discuss the topic again, certainly with a different perspective this time. And this time, I've chosen to discuss the perspective of other Trainers returning to play, which considering what has happened with my fellow Pokémon Go Trainers, might be a coming and going thing.

In recent times, I've noticed that for some of them, their returns have been intermittent. What I mean is that they have returned to play since that initial "boom", but they don't play regularly. They might play just a few minutes each day, or they might play on some days and not on others. Some of them are incidentally fellow general Pokémon fans as well, who enjoy Pokémon things besides Pokémon Go, and that may be their rationale for limiting efforts in this game in lieu of everything else. This is definitely a come-and-go thing in a way, though their intent to play may not be as such.

Meanwhile, for some of my Pokémon Go fellows from past years, they've had their return, but then they've seemingly had their longer periods of inactivity before suddenly becoming active for major events such as Community Day and then going back to what may be an extended dormancy. This may be understandable with current times (which force limited activities regardless) and what they may have going on (which may not allow for much else). It may be hard to question them and ascertain why this is so, but what is clear is that what happens is a major coming and going of things.

Other factors in relation to "coming and going" could also conceivably be considered to contribute somehow. Pokémon Go tends to have a repetitive ("grinding") method of gameplay, and this has the possibility of inciting boredom even for some loyal players sooner or later. As much as things can play out for free, some things are best aided with purchase, and this may depend on their coming and going of revenue. Considering many things, they seem to come and go just as much as the drive to play.

I don't expect my interest in Pokémon Go (for that matter, anything Pokémon) to come and go, but for some of my fellows, they may not have much of a choice but to take things in a come and go manner, even after committing a return to it. But I suppose if an intent of my return is to help fellow Trainers get back on track, then that help may be appreciated no matter if the interests of other Trainers are ongoing and continuous like mine is, or wavering and intermittent as may be the case.

One year ago: Return, Return, Return, Return...

Two years ago: A Happy Return

Three years ago: Here I Go (Again)

Worlds Within Worlds

A certain game developer company prides itself as being able to make "worlds within worlds". That is to say, it is able to take those who play the games made by the company to places that constitute their own self-contained worlds, even within a single world that may contain them all. It's a statement I'm taken with, and I feel that it can describe the situation for Pokémon and many of its related games as well. It may require a larger stretch of the imagination in order to see how the concept applies, but to a certain extent, it can be said to apply well.

The world of Pokémon is something that needs no explanation; it is where everything and anything related to Pokémon happens. It is a world that is not unlike the real world, and if anything, it may be considered to be a realization of some good principles related to worlds or even civilizations. There is evidence of things being interconnected, whether it's the people (as "imported" figures), environment (common habitats and features), or Pokémon (like regional forms), and that's something that makes a world even more of a world. And after close to two and a half decades of game development, I'd say that has been evident.

As for the "worlds within" part, the games have places that evidently can literally tick on their own. The places where Ranger and Mystery Dungeon take place appear to be self-contained (with the latter once having a reference to Mt. Coronet) and yet they still work for their purposes. Even in some games, seemingly apocalyptic events also appear to be confined to the places where they respectively occur. Though they may eventually be connected somehow to happenings in other places, it is as if the happenings occurred in isolation first. That would be almost indicative of a distinct world.

While it may be hard to consider that happenings in Pokémon occur in their own worlds since this world is all one, the way they allow themselves to occur may be otherworldly in nature, making it appear as if they are in their own worlds. The Pokémon games were likely not designed with "worlds within worlds" as a guiding statement, but they could be construed as such in a way, even if ultimately everything that happens are part of a single realm - that of the creatures, people, and everything else related. 

And if this all sounds like it might tie to a specific series of worldly games, I suppose it might not be far off.

One year ago: The New PvP Charged Move Mechanism

Two years ago: AFA ID in Memoriam

Three years ago: Cold as the Winds

Let's Play and Pokémon

The Internet is a popular place to post videos, especially on one site designed for that purpose and particularly a few Pokémon-related videos, as I've highlighted a few times over. One of those kinds of videos are "Let's Play" or "LP" videos, where people play through certain games while also providing commentary - most likely vocal commentary - and the results are packaged in a video or a series of them and then posted to video sites such as the one I've browsed through. From this, it can be gained that Pokémon can somehow be involved.

Far from its humble origins on a certain offbeat corner of the Internet, "Let's Play" videos are now a big thing wherever videos are posted, and certain people have become famous because of them. The commentary that these videos can provide can be engaging enough for lengthy and possibly arduous games like the main series Pokémon games, or perhaps even open-ended games like Pokémon Shuffle. While the commentary may not be objective, the subjectivity may carry viewers through to experience the actual things that need to be done, which for the main series Pokémon games as an example can be done in more ways than one. Ultimately, the experience matters, and that can be a very good thing for the games being exhibited, Pokémon or otherwise.

And as expected, the concept works and plays pretty well with Pokémon games. Main series Pokémon games of the past and present lend themselves to this format of video creation, and many different creators are involved in the creation. This shows the breadth and interest of the Pokémon fans that are involved. Then there is also the inclusion of the TCG and even Pokémon Go as a subject of a few "Let's Play" videos is expected yet also surprising, but this speaks for the expandability or versatility of the format.

All these "LP" videos are impressive and make it tempting for someone to create their own. But there is the caveat that one may have to go through legal hoops to ensure that things are all clear, since one is dealing directly with copyrighted material in the form of games and other things that may be associated with them. In the case of Pokémon, since Nintendo has a stake in it, the Nintendo Creators program may be invoked for absolute clarity. I'm currently dealing with a Pokémon initiative that is not really an "LP" but is related to it, and there has been the fair warning to sidestep copyright issues. This will certainly continue to be something relevant in any case, and does figure into my considerations of whether I would be apt to make one properly while giving it my unique twist as with this blog.

Games, including Pokémon games, to some extent can be considered encapsulations of experience, whether close to realistic or beyond imagination. Video creators who are gamers have realized this and as a result have created "Let's Play" videos that feature the games as well as associated subjective experiences with them. The making of these could be a big step, but it's also a big step of experience that one may very well take in order to captivate viewers with (Pokémon) games and their workings.

One year ago: Pokémon and Music Games, Revisited

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

Three years ago: Bandai Pokémon XY Swing - Pikachu

Mega Evolution Quibbles in Pokémon Go

As detailed in the previous post, Mega Evolution has made its way into Pokémon Go. It's dynamic and massive - it has changed around a few things within its realm. Yet while the system functions as it needs to, there have been some issues or "quibbles" that the system presents for Trainers like me, and this is true by my experience and that of others. I've also detailed the points of relevance that the issues revolve around, and it's best to discuss them accordingly around those points.

One of those points is the non-permanence of Mega Evolution. Mega Evolution has never been permanent in the main series and accordingly shouldn't be permanent here, but that's not the real issue: the issue is in the way it is non-permanent. Unlike the main series, which imposes the limit of being permanent only in one battle, there is some leeway with the four-hour time limit; yet there is also a sense of urgency, in that it makes one consider whether in that time as many things as possible can be done with a Mega-Evolved Pokémon, since there would be little point otherwise. One of my fellows has suggested battle limit counts as a what-if alternative. The non-permanence issue touches on the Mega Energy concept, which is itself non-permanent unlike Mega Stones that for all intents and purposes are. Since Mega Energy needs to be collected and then spent for Mega Evolution, it necessitates a continual cycle of replenishment.

That leads into the effort for the process of obtaining Mega Energy. As stated, they can be collected by Special Research for Mega Beedrill and Mega Raids for all other available forms, and they are effectively the only way. At the start of this month, there was an addition of Field Research tasks that reward Mega Energy for the current starter forms, but they are (or have found to be) so rare that it's not worth the effort trying to find them; it would be easier to just raid for them. Thus, one is effectively raiding for something that is going to be quickly consumed, especially for the initial Mega Evolution. The fate of Mega Beedrill is rather limited if it doesn't make it to raids for earning Energy, and the fate of any Mega-Evolved Pokémon may be limited even with raids, especially given that some Legendary Pokémon have Mega forms that may then incur greater costs. Alternatives need to be considered in order to make earning Mega Energy less demanding.

This then becomes a segue to a very important question: "is it worth it?" Some Trainers have put their foot down and say it isn't, by not raiding Mega Raids. Others may have participated in them but they may not have spent their Mega Energy, and instead choose to wait for a good time (because of the time limit), better Pokémon (to invest efforts into), or until conditions improve to allow more comfortable earning of Mega Energy. I for one wouldn't evolve even my best Beedrill into its Mega form until I can stand to earn more Mega Energy for it and/or the time is right. The consumption of money is another problem, since more raids require more Premium passes to be purchased; for some, they won't stand for this as it makes it apparent that Mega Evolution is "behind a paywall". Lots of consideration have to go in justifying lots of time, effort, and money into something as temporary as Mega Evolution. and the worthiness may still be relative.

Mega Evolution is undeniably something big, whether in the main series or even now in Pokémon Go. However, what seem to be as big as the concept itself are all the issues or "quibbles" that accompany it, perceived or not. Mega Evolution is still early yet in Pokémon Go, and there is much more to see and for the system to advance. In order for that to occur, the "quibbles" need to be sorted out somehow so that they are less of being stumbling blocks and more of being steps on the path to Mega success.

One year ago: Two Flavors of Pokémon Stickers

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

Three years ago: (Self) References

Let's Go Mega Evolve

After having been divulged some two and a half months ago, things have finally come to fruition. Those things would of course be Mega Evolution in Pokémon Go, bringing another facet of the main series into the popular mobile installment. This just happened a few days ago, but as always, I don't cover new things immediately to get some hands-on time with them. And now that I've had some of that hands-on time, it's time to cover this big, wild new thing for the world of Pokémon Go.

Mega Evolution works in a different way in Pokémon Go. Instead of collecting Mega Stones to be activated in battle, Trainers collect Mega Energy instead, and each species that has a Mega Evolution has its own Mega Energy. A Mega Evolution is activated by tapping "Mega Evolve" for a particular Pokémon of the possible species that can do so; the first time doing so uses up a great amount of Mega Energy, while subsequent attempts use up only a fraction. Like in the main series games, Mega Evolution is temporary and limited to one Pokémon at a time, but here, the temporariness constraint is a time limit of four hours or until another Pokémon has its Mega Evolution activated. Mega-Evolved Pokémon can be used to battle Gyms, raid bosses, Team Go Rocket, or a Trainer friend, but they cannot be used to defend a Gym nor to battle in the Go Battle League... at least for now.

At present, Mega Energy can be collected from Special Research (for the current case of Beedrill, which had a set added at the time Mega Evolution was introduced), as well as from Mega Raids of Mega-Evolved Pokémon (for the current case of the first-generation fully evolved starters of Venusaur, Charizard (both X and Y), and Blastoise). The new Mega Raids are equivalent to Level 5 raids, but they are in their own class, as evidenced by their unique raid egg; they are otherwise no different than other raids and can be raided on site or remotely. While it has been hinted that there will be more ways to collect Mega Energy than these two isolated cases for both groups of species, at the moment these methods are the only way for them respectively (if at all, effectively). As well, it is obvious that the Mega-Evolved forms are to be added gradually.

The addition of Mega Raids have also effected other changes to raids. One of them is the simplification of raid levels or tiers: Level 2 raids are merged into Level 1 and Level 4 are merged into Level 3, with both gaining the rewards of the higher level. This makes some raids easier and yet even more rewarding. As well, the Team Contribution bonus, previously awarded to the team in the raid that dealt the most damage, is replaced with a Speed bonus that gives out more Premier Balls for a non-Mega raid and more Mega Energy for a Mega Raid. Therefore, since time is of the issue, more participating Trainers and better prepared Pokémon teams are essential to get more Mega Energy.

This system has not been without its issues, however, at least as perceived by Trainers like me. Most of the issues revolve around the non-permanence of Mega Evolutions, the effort expended for this purpose, and the worthiness of it all, with or without current conditions. There is much to discuss about these issues, but alas, one paragraph in this post is not sufficient for them all. Thus, they will require a separate post for their discussion and explanation. They are indeed very important and affect everyone, including me, and they need to be discussed.

Mega Evolution has always been something fascinating since they were first introduced in the main series Pokémon games. For those who have maintained a loyal following of the popular mobile installment of Pokémon Go, now they can (start to) get in on the fun. It may take a lot of effort, but at least some of the enjoyment is there. Whatever happens, this is still a massive Mega step that finally brings the power of a group of supreme Pokémon evolution forms to Trainers that are literally always on the go.

One year ago: Cosplay: Creators' Super Fest by AFA (Regional)

Two years ago: Between Bugs and Features

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