Holding Back: Pokémon Presents, 8/8/2023

So, the matter that had to wait until tomorrow - that is, today - is another edition of Pokémon Presents, the customary mid-year edition. In this way, my coverage of it may be described as having to be "held back". However, this edition also seems to reveal that the (usual) minds behind this edition, likely part of The Pokémon Company International (TPCI), have been "holding back" as well, at least in comparison to prior editions. Further, for this edition, I also have to scale (hold) back a few things for my coverage. That's a lot of "holding back", and it's wise to just go and deal with them.

August for Pokémon matters is always a buzzing time, as that is when the Pokémon World Championships are held in normal times. For this, I have to go ahead and say that I will hold back most of the details and save it for closer to this weekend, as that is when the competition will take place. It's an important affair, and it was chosen to be drilled down as the first matter that was discussed in this edition of Pokémon Presents. That much is already spectacular, but the spectacle is to be covered more in depth by me later on.

In the meantime, something that TPCI didn't hold back for this edition was coverage of animated content, of which there were three things over the course of this edition. The first is a miniseries called "Path to the Peak", which is based on the TCG and has a "western" look and feel. The second and third are "Paldean Winds", another game region-based web miniseries, and "Horizons", which involves the traditional anime. While the former stands on its own, the latter demands more explanation as... something I have or have not come to terms with. Either way, all of these I have to deal with "holding back" somehow.

Next was a "new old thing" involving a Pikachu with a strange affinity for coffee and solving mysteries. That would be a new game, titled Detective Pikachu Returns, for the Nintendo Switch. It harkens back to its 3DS counterpart and is in part a "port" of it, but it's also going to be a "rehash" as it will involve some new Pokémon that have been revealed since the time of that game. For those who can't wait, they'll have the full experience very soon in a couple of months when the game releases on October 6.

Then there was the domain of mobile (and/or spinoff) games and all their "shenanigans", which became a focal point this time around. Pokémon Go has its Go Fest as one of them, but then an addition will soon have its generational "shenanigan". Unite still has its "shenanigans" from its anniversary additions and is due for follow-ups on that. Masters EX has the usual new Sync Pair "shenanigans", while Café Remix has a new event on tap with the addition of another Pokémon from Paldea. And then there was Pokémon Sleep, which has become its own thing ("shenanigan"), but I'll "hold back" on this too.

Lastly, there were more updates on the Nintendo Switch front. The old GBC TCG game and the N64 Stadium 2 game became available on the Virtual Console, now enjoyable by current fans. Scarlet and Violet are still going with their content updates, which currently deals with the dynamic duo of Mew and Mewtwo, who can now be obtained with special characteristics for both. Capping off this entire edition was a major preview for the upcoming DLC for Scarlet and Violet and its two parts, one traditional-styled and the other modern-styled, as is the norm for the base game. The first is due out in September while the second is due out later.

Evidently, that is all a lot to take in, and that has resulted in the longest edition yet, at over half an hour. For this one, I also received "color commentary" from some streamers, and what I've got is that while the length is impressive and so was everything that was revealed, all of it was still within the traditional format and may have had a few editing flubs - which may be construed as a "holding back" of sorts. That may or may not be a good thing, but somehow it still manages to serve loyal fans like them and me.

Overall, the "holding back" seems a little too evident, even though the information on the Pokémon games weren't - though for my purpose, I have to do the same. But to cover as much as possible (and not "holding back") is still a rightful thing, both for them and me, and indeed a lot has been covered. Yet some things may still have to remain as such on both sides, and that may be the only concession, a fact that cannot be "held back" even for the multitude of fans that Pokémon has today. 

One year ago: Transitioning from Shuffle to Café Remix

Two years ago: Trainer Green and Ash XY Pikachu Figures

Three years ago: Into the Myst

Four years ago: Raid Stories

Five years ago: Evolution Is a Change

Six years ago: Historical Pokémon

I'm Spellbound, Wanting Tomorrow

Now you're here,

I can see your light

This light that I must follow

You, you may take my life away,

So far away

Now I know I must leave your spell

I want tomorrow...

-- "I Want Tomorrow", Enya

If there's anything very particular that this blog suggests, it is that I am fascinated by Pokémon - then, now, and ever. In other words, I am "spellbound" by it throughout all those times. Such a feeling also happens to be captured by a song from an artist I occasionally mention on this blog, whose songs (and music) may be considered to take people on a spiritual journey. And this song does that, albeit (perhaps) slightly differently.

According to the various notes about the song and by the artist, this song captures that feeling of being fascinated or "spellbound" for a "tragic hero" figure of the past and the particular depiction of that figure. More generally, the song is also considered to capture impressions about the present day... and thus its "music video performance", which does seem to bring the two together, makes some sense. 

That leaves the thoughts about this song and Pokémon, which is then a reflection of me. When Pokémon is presented in front of me, I become "lost" - as in "immersed", rather than "not knowing where to go" - and I feel an urging to keep that immersion going while knowing that I have to move myself in and out of it with all other things that I have going on, including the stuff that supports that "immersion".

In fact, there is currently a matter that deals with that Pokémon "immersion", but I can't bring myself to deal with it late at the end of the day, and as the song above suggests, it will all have to wait for... tomorrow. It's as spellbound as me as it is for many Pokémon fans, though this has to be admitted to be to varying degrees for them and me according to that matter. Regardless, this should be clarified on its own terms then.

As a final note, the chorus of the song as quoted above contains the words "leave your spell". This might suggest a sense of "parting", but I have to stress again that in this case, it's more like "weaving in and out". "Parting" is a different subject that I loath to discuss, especially in light of my Pokémon interests; in a nutshell, I still can say that it's not what one thinks it might be, which could be things ranging from bad to worse.

The fascination (or the state of being "spellbound") with Pokémon that I have has been one that lasts almost as long as Pokémon itself. If this song has anything to say about it, then it is like a light that I follow, which takes my life to places. Yet I also know I have to wait for what tomorrow may bring regarding this fascination, and that may just be the representation of the spiritual journey that I have with Pokémon.

One year ago: The Old New Addiction: Pokémon Café Remix

Two years ago: Quickies: More Alton-Pokémon Quirks

Three years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 8/8/2020

Four years ago: The Other Side of "Childhood"

Five years ago: Making Decisions in Magikarp Jump

Six years ago: Pokémon Wrapping Paper

How to Regard the Orange Islands

Pokémon has many curiosities, especially now that it's over a quarter century old. Some are trivial, others are captivating, and still others are significant. Of those in the last category, the Orange Islands may well be considered one of them, and it presents something else related its curious nature. That would be the matter of considering or regarding it as it fits into the whole of Pokémon. While this matter might seem rather obvious, some ideas seemingly also can play into this, and therefore it has to be given some thought, particularly as I haven't dealt with it on this blog all these years.

First and foremost is how it's commonly and obviously regarded, as a part of the anime. However, there is an additional idea that plays into this: the stretch of episodes that involve the location, as well as the associated feature film or movie, could be considered as a "grand filler arc". Other anime series use filler episodes - which in numbers and consecutively become an "arc" - in order to generate content while the source itself generates material to be adapted; this famously happens all too often for a series involving pirates - fans of Japanese pop culture should already know which one. This makes sense for the Orange Islands, as it happened between the first generation and second generation games and the anime was effectively waiting for material from the latter. These fillers also often have little to no recognition, and in the case of the Orange Islands, they've been known to be skipped in at least one run of the anime; while some character development did occur there, quite a bit also seems to be ignored, including an all-important "sparkle". Given these "fragments", the "grand filler arc" reasoning fits in with how Pokémon was like back then - and now as well.

Whether or not this part of the anime is considered "filler", it also seems appropriate to consider it a partial inspiration for a part of the games, which would be the additional island areas in the remakes of the first-generation games. The Pokémon in the islands are of the same purpose as well - being (at least some of) the "additional" ones that aren't present in Kanto proper or the primary third-generation games - and this is also reflective of the status of the Orange Islands themselves in the anime, which wasn't based on a specific main series game locale. At this point, it's wise to consider that the locale itself won't make it properly to an (official main series) game, so these additional islands would also be considered having "accommodated" the locale in the framework of those games.

However one cuts it, the Orange Islands remain a major and curious "outlier" of Pokémon with their unique presence in the anime, which is otherwise almost totally based on the (main series) games. The locale obviously still has its place in the anime, but beyond that, it does present a bit of an enigma to fit in the games that are its inspiration. Obviously, it's also a curious fodder for thought, for Pokémon then and now.

One year ago: The Lingering Places of Toxic Pokémon Fans

Two years ago: Taking It All Home

Three years ago: Sponsored PokéStops and Gyms in Pokémon Go

Four years ago: The Persistence of Legendary Raid Hours

Five years ago: Poké Ball Mini Pokémon Figures

Six years ago: Metal Unova Cap Pikachu Keychain

Cosplay: Idoltopia - Cosplayer Rising Star

Me: OK, so there's a few things to be explained about this one.

Goh: From the looks of it, this seems to be two festivals - I think - in one? 

Me: Yeah, that's the gist of it. The first is the "Idoltopia" part.

Ash: Idols - like dance groups! So I'm going to see a lot of them today.

Pikachu: Pi pika chu pika! ["I like their dancing!"]

Me: You bet.

Goh: Yeah, I've got the schedule, and that's what you'll see today. So the entertainment is taken care of.

Me: That leaves the "Rising Star" part. Remember a festival from way, way, way back?

Ash: Yeah!

Me: We called it a theme event way back when, but it's really a festival - in fact, it was called "Imouto Japan Festival". Goh wasn't around back then either, so now we get to discuss it.

Goh: It obviously has to deal with characters... Oh, I see here, there are two groups of stars, Rookie Star and Rising Star.

Ash: That's part of a competition, like last time, right?

Me: Indeed, that's what we (you) didn't cover. So, "Rookie Star" is for those who send in characters who are just starting out to gain popularity. "Rising Star" is for those who are even more popular.

Goh: I get it. So one of each will be chosen.

Me: That's the point. Now, with the way I am and how Ash is, I could stand to put him (and me) as a "Rookie Star". But the list of requirements is long, and we'd have needed to prepare it ahead of time.

Goh: How long?

Me: Let me put it this way: Ash would need to spend quality time with a photographer, and that means even more planning.

Ash: I'd love to be in it! You too, Pikachu.

Pikachu: Pi pika. ["I support."]

Me: In any case, it would have to be next time they hold it, but we'll see what we can do. But right now, there should be a general character parade that you can participate in.

Goh: Oh, that's nice.

Ash: I got there and signed up!

Me: Great! You should have noticed that the place is quite familiar.

Ash: Oh, it's the creative center! So we did end up getting back here after the last time.

Me: Nice, huh? And you also have your Kalos outfit, something else familiar. So, what else did you see there?

Ash: I saw booths and stands for goodies - and the characters too! So I guess we'll have to deal with this too.

Me: We might very well have to.

Goh: How were the dance groups?

Ash: They're just great! We had fun just watching them.

Goh: Did you get to see the Rookie and Rising Stars?

Ash: I did! They had to perform too. But they also did different things - some acted and some sang.

Me: We can totally take advantage of this; maybe we can have both.

Goh: I'm still curious who won the Star awards.

Ash: A friend of us won Rookie Star! But I didn't know the one for Rising Star.

Me: That's incredible. That's surely an achievement.

Goh: And... what about the character parade?

Ash: 27 characters and I didn't win. A pirate, ninja teacher, and knight won - and they're all friends of us.

Me: That's interesting. Maybe we shouldn't feel too bad, especially if the prizes were that few.

Ash: Well, I still had fun meeting them.

Goh: If you didn't, then what's the point?

Pikachu: Pika pika. ["I agree."]

Me: On that note, we can say that today is a good day.

Ash: I'd say! I think we both got inspiration on how to make this work next time.

Me: Sure enough. By the way, I should mention that unlike way back when, this one is a local edition where I am, and not out of town. It's also the first time, so that means we don't have to compete all the way over there. So that's also why I have hopes.

Goh: You can do this! Whenever it happens next time.

Ash: I agree. Let's give it our best!

Pikachu: Pi pi pika! ["Let's do it!"]

Me: The next stars may be in front of our eyes.

One year ago: Cosplay: "Seventeen Fest"

Two years ago: New Normal... and Still Loving

Three years ago: The Look of Pikachu

Four years ago: There Is Always a Way

Five years ago: (More) Plastic Poké Balls

Six years ago: Cosplay: Tomodachi 2

Brandon's Back in My Town!!!

In a similar manner to five years ago, my reporting on this occasion has become somewhat delayed, so now I feel I just need to get it done. And as with that time back then, it involves one of the biggest names - if not the biggest name - in Pokémon Go fandom, the one and only Brandon Tan. The circumstances are similar as well: he went on another "Indonesia tour" to see how things have changed since then, especially after the world almost got "torn apart" by a certain happening. In effect, the longing from four years ago (that I have and others may too) had effectively been satiated.

Like the previous time, my locale - that is, town - was on the itinerary of his visit. He arrived on June 30th in the evening by a road trip from the previous locale due to other modes of travel being prohibitive. Being that I missed the moment of his welcoming from the previous visit, this time I made sure to be on the "welcoming committee", and I was, with a couple of my raid group fellows. We had a very pleasant and significant chat, though not very long, as Brandon needed a rest after traveling so far and the agenda for the next two days - and the only full ones in my locale at that - was packed before he left for the next one (and the rest of his tour) on the morning of July 3rd.

Unfortunately, so was mine. That weekend seemed to be one "where everything happened". In addition to Brandon Tan, a special occasion had taken place and became the reason for the travel woes as above; a Go Battle Weekend also took place the very same time; the same Mysterium where a certain innovative technology was unveiled also occurred; and then, I was also sending Ash to deal with a certain festival, something that also occurred five years ago, albeit for a lesser one. What's important is that I couldn't join Brandon during most of those two days, although I did make time for the evening of his last full day, when a "grand meetup" occurred, though without a PvP tournament as with five years ago. For that, though, I turn to a discussion with Ash and Goh.

Goh: Oh, so this is that special guy you met.

Ash: Yup! We met a long time ago and now we got to meet again, thanks to our friend here.

Me: Isn't that nice? Even if we are busy at times, somehow, we just have to make things work out.

Goh: What happened at the meetup?

Ash: A lot! He really praised our friend's Pokémon community for keeping it up and making it better - I know you had a hand in it.

Pikachu: Pika pika chu! ["Very nice work!"]

Me: I sure did. That's why I keep looking out for places to nominate PokéStops.

Ash: He also said that your community and others are something that many people around the world can only dream to have, and the sponsors are amazing.

Me: Isn't it? It's such a blessing.

Ash: He was also surprised how the new Trainers are younger.

Goh: Hey, it seems never too early to start.

Me: I would agree.

Ash: Oh yeah! There were a couple of challenges too. I got into a Pokémon trading challenge to see how many Lucky Pokémon we could get - but my partner and I didn't get much, and the young Trainers won that one.

Me: Don't be surprised; even without a challenge, it doesn't happen often.

Ash: But you know what? I won a "guess the Pokémon cry" challenge! I got 4 out of 10, and the others got less than that. Brandon beat me on Chimchar, but I got some that the others had trouble with.

Goh: Wow! What was the prize?

Ash: A Zoroark mini figure! It looks really cool.

Pikachu: Pi pika pika! ["Looks very nice!"]

Ash: Before we left, we all took a group picture and raided a Shadow Articuno raid together, but it wasn't Shiny. He also told us a few raid secrets.

Me: Nice. Very useful information.

Ash: But... did you get the picture?

Me: See, that's the thing. I never got it - even the welcoming one - and the only pictures Brandon shared were the daytime meetups, which I didn't join in because I dealt with you and the festival.

Goh: That's too bad. I wanted to see them too.

Me: I'm sure you're not the only one. Anyhow, I have to thank you very much for this opportunity... and maybe we'll get to see Brandon again sometime - hopefully when we're not too busy.

Ash: So do I! I can't wait for that.

Goh: Neither can I. 

After having been absent on the local scene for a few years, it was refreshing to see Brandon back on touring that scene again this year - and stopping by my town once again. Wherever he goes, it's not that hard for him to draw an audience, and that is proven in my town as well. The only way to go from here, as he said, is to improve, and this ought to lead to something wondrous and related to Pokémon (Go) in the future. At that point, it is certain that another meeting and great time will follow.

One year ago: The Hisui Cup of GBL

Two years ago: Good Game, Poor Communication?

Three years ago: Get Going for School, Pokémon Style

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

Five years ago: Cosplay: YASUMI

Six years ago: Perfection and Excellence

The Prize Machine in Pokémon Unite

Moving on, from one "controversial" feature to another, this time for Pokémon Unite. I had mentioned that I was loathing to discuss this new feature, given how it ties into a current issue that the game may have. However, with the onset of the anniversary event for said game, the issue for the feature has been alleviated somewhat, though it's still relevant in a way to be explained. As such, I've deemed it plausible to be discussed, and that becomes my intent for this post.

The new feature, called Prize Machine, is a way of obtaining certain items by directly targeting them. By throwing balls and making "hits" on particular items, one can then obtain the items once enough hits have been made. Two balls are available to hit a selection of six items, and they are replenished after 12 hours, allowing more hits to be made at that point; each ball typically has a hit score of 1, but scores of 2 and even 4 are possible, albeit very rarely. This is important as most items have a hit score of 6 or greater, and getting high hit scores is partly essential. Further, the items change out from day to day when it turns over, and when they change, the scores are reset - so it is necessary to make hits on a single day.

As for how the pay-to-win aspect plays into this, each ball can be made to hit again immediately by paying up Aeos Gems, no matter how one obtains them. And given the fact about item hit scores as above, this is practically necessary for higher-valued items; for example, some Holowear take 10 hits to obtain, which means that assuming there are no special conditions and the two balls are still used twice within 12 hours freely, one would still need to spend some amount of Aeos Gems to make up the difference. Predictably, this gets old real quickly, and it just becomes another outlet to drain Aeos Gems and therefore one's spending... unless one still has not spent anything, like me.

Currently, the anniversary event is a special condition, and one can earn 10 bonus balls each day for 10 days, limited to that day, in addition to the regular two balls. One can also choose from two item sets for something to hit, and a few of the item prizes are attractive... like the Captain Style Cinderace Holowear, which in fact I and a few others have gotten, as it cost only 10 hits. While this is somewhat welcomed, the pay-to-win aspect still lingers, as one of the item prizes - the Band Style Pikachu Holowear - takes a whopping 40 hits, and not even the daily bonus balls can make a significant dent into that, unless one is very lucky. Some amount of spending is still necessary nonetheless - "almost totally dependent", as previously said.

Even so, there is the consolation that replenishing the balls by paying Aeos Gems is limited to a certain number of times each day, and thus there is the sense that they shouldn't all be spent in one place - in this case, this feature. Also, first-time users may likely have been confronted with a bronze Chansey emblem as the first item to obtain, but it's still rather illusionary because of how the system works after that point. One more thing to note is that an animation plays as the balls are made to hit, but can be skipped as it is a bit lengthy. The spectacular animation and the way the system works make it apt to be classified as "gacha", even though specific items can be targeted.

So, it seems that much of the "controversy" of the Prize Machine feature has not been shed, even with recent developments. Yet it does somehow work out to furnish items to be used, including some that have been coveted all this time - and that means it is still part of the current dynamics of Pokémon Unite, especially now with the anniversary event. Issue or non-issue, some things may just have to give, and that's pretty much the case with this feature - hopefully further down the line as well.

One year ago: The Shining Moment: Pokémon Presents, 8/3/2022

Two years ago: Countermeasures for Pokémon Go: Madness in Madness

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

Four years ago: Cosplay: Utsuru SX

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

Six years ago: Pokémon on My Bed

Let's Go on Routes

As I mentioned in last month's Pokémon Go event rollup, one of the events involved the launch of a new feature, and now is the time to explain that. The new feature, called Routes, is to provide new perspectives on adventuring by following set paths on the overworld and thus the real world, taking Trainers wherever the set paths take them. That's the "groundbreaking" part, but it also has a "controversial" part about it, also as I've mentioned. Both need to be explained along with how the feature works and what it provides to adventuring Trainers.

The feature is accessed by popping out the Nearby tab and going to the Routes section. By then tapping "See Nearby Routes", one can see a list of Routes that can be followed in the area. Selecting one of the Routes shows its details, most importantly the start and end points as well as the path between them; tapping "Follow" then lets the Trainer follow the path, which starts when the Trainer is at the starting point. As the path is followed, the path turns blue, and once the end point is reached by following the path, the Trainer is rewarded with XP and items. Some Routes may be followed in reverse (the start point becomes the end point and vice versa), which can be opted by tapping "Reverse Direction" before following.

Routes are tracked like Gyms (accessed from the Trainer profile), with badges for each individual one and records of how many times the Route has been followed by a Trainer and others. Following Routes has additional perks: quicker earning of Buddy Candy, more Pokémon with Incense (on new Routes), and differently appearing Pokémon, including Zygarde Cells that rarely appear and may be collected. Routes can be approximately as short as 500 meters, the absolute minimum, or as long as 20 kilometers, a stupendous maximum. Given such extremes, the feature allows the following of a Route to be paused - such as when one needs to go out of the way for dealing with a Gym, for example - or stopped entirely as a last resort, forcing progress erasure in doing so and affording a Trainer the chance to start over or even to choose other Routes to follow.

How are Routes created? Well, for now, some specially tasked Trainers have the capability of doing so by tapping "Create New Route" in the Nearby tab section or the profile Route tracker, specifying a start point (and end point if already decided), tracking the path between the two points, and giving specifications to the new Route, much like PokéStop nominations. In fact, these also have to be reviewed by Niantic much like those same nominations, and they have to be accepted before appearing and may possibly be rejected if they're dubious. The Route list also contains an "Official" section, which suggests that certain special parties can propose their own Routes like they do for Sponsored PokéStops - though nothing has yet to come out of this, and this will likely have to wait for some time.

It is this issue and others that bring about its "controversy". Route creation is apparently still rather limited even though the feature has launched, and it still depends on those special Trainers even as of this writing. The recorded paths may also drift due to GPS issues and may not reflect the intended path accurately. Some approved Routes may have quirks about them - particularly, hallmarks of "automated creation" - that make them impossible to follow accurately, although it becomes recommended to report the Route if that happens. The user interfaces for Routes also have parts that don't seem to work (appropriately) at present. Finally, even starting, following, pausing (also during Route creation), and ending Routes may be somewhat finicky, again due to GPS issues, although workarounds do exist for them. All these represent the "perpetual beta" aspect of Pokémon Go as I've discussed a real long time ago, and this feature may still be considered as such.

Nevertheless, the feature of Routes (and its prospects) is an attractive one for exploring paths that one may not be aware of, or even if one doesn't know where to go and what paths to take. Its "groundbreaking" came with some "controversy" as above, but that has room to be mitigated in the times ahead. At that point, the adventure in Pokémon Go can take new paths, even on ones that are specifically set for that purpose.

One year ago: The Pokémon Unite Phone-Switch Transition

Two years ago: Nostalgic "Coins" of Pokémon

Three years ago: Remote Raids and Invitations

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

Five years ago: Divergent Anime?

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