Sunday, December 29, 2019

This Pokemon Clip Shows Why Starter Pokemon Are So Important

Every Pokemon trainer will normally start their journey picking one of three pocket monsters to help them on their way of becoming a world class master, with each generation shifting the first three Pokemon that players can choose from. With the first generation starting off with Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur, the most recent generation in Pokemon Sword and Shield featured three brand new starters in the forms of Scorbunny, Sobble, and Grookey who represent water, leaf, and fire types. With the recent anime series bringing in Scorbunny as the young trainer Go's first companion, one fan isolated the clip, showing us just how important a starter Pokemon can be!

Twitter User AniPokeHub shared this clip from the most recent installment of Pokemon: The Series with Go capturing the Scorbunny he had encountered in a previous episode, deciding to make the fire bunny the first pocket monster that he would ever catch in his pursuit of the mythical Pokemon of Mew:

The most recent episode of the anime series was a heart breaking one, with Go originally telling Scorbunny that he couldn't follow him on his journey, as he had wanted Mew to be the first Pokemon that he ever caught. After Scorbunny had helped both Go and Ash Ketchum in solving their Gigantmax Snorlax problem, Ketchum's right hand man decided to take on this starter as the first Pokemon he would ever catch. With the pair deciding to join one another, Go and Scorbunny proved to be the perfect team for the world of Pokemon.

There have been eight generations of Pokemon to date with hundreds of pocket monsters to its name, and the starters for each generation have been able to differentiate themselves not just from each other, but with the other pocket monsters of the long running series.

What do you think of the budding relationship between Go and Scorbunny? Who has been your favorite Pokemon starter to date? Feel free to let us know in the comments or hit me up directly on Twitter @EVComedy to talk all things comics, anime, and Pokemon!

Pokemon: The Series, is now airing new episodes weekly in Japan, but unfortunately is still not officially licensed for an English language release as of this writing. Staff confirmed for the new series include Daiki Tomiyasu serving as chief director for OLM, Maki Odaira as series director, and Kunihiko Yuyama as creative supervisor.

Saturday, December 28, 2019

Rental teams make competitive Pokémon Sword and Shield play more accessible than ever

The first few fans to get Pokémon Sword and Shield at a release event on Nov. 15 in New York City celebrate their purchase. Pokémon Sword and Shield has 400 monsters to catch and is the first full Pokémon game released on the Nintendo Switch. 

When Paul Chua first picked up a copy of Pokémon Sword in November, he knew he was ready to invest another hundred hours into the monster-collecting adventure to see which Pokémon was the very best. It's common for top competitive players to completely submerge themselves in a new game as soon as it hits store shelves.

2 Related

This time was a little different, though, as Chua didn't have to do it all himself. Instead, he grabbed a rental team.

"I just saw one of the Japanese players I follow share the team he was using," Chua said. "He found a six-mon squad including a Tyranitar, Arcanine, Mimikyu, Gastrodon, Corviknight and Rotom-Heat that he could easily download and play with himself. It's part of Pokémon Sword and Shield's rental system, where players can upload teams to share with other players and the wider community as a whole.

"I have used rental teams at the beginning, and I used them to get up to Master Ball rank [in online play] and then tried to create small variations based on that team," said Chua, who has competed in multiple Pokémon championships. "The only changes I made were pretty small, such as just changing attacks and items."

The process of building a competitive team in Pokémon is far more arduous than most casual fans or outsiders would think. Getting monsters with the best possible stats requires dozens of hours of work, if not more. From there, players have to make decisions on compositions, items to give their team members, in-match strategies and how their Pokémon fare in advantageous, neutral and disadvantageous matchups.

The rental-team system serves as a shortcut. It lets players figure out what they like before they go through the days of effort it will take to get their roster just right. That creates a gateway for new and veteran Pokémon masters alike to get exposure to the more intense competitive aspect of the game.

"[Rental teams] can open up the game and make testing easier, but some teams became so popular via rental codes that players started to take advantage of that," Pokémon competitor and commentator Markus Stadter said. "One way is by preparing a specific strategy for a common matchup, and the other thing is to mimic a popular rental team but change the movesets a lot."

The rental system was first introduced in Pokémon Sun and Moon, but it was held back due to a few awkward design choices. Players had to log in to a Pokémon account and create a QR code in order to share their teams, which was needlessly difficult. Sword and Shield lets players share their teams via 14-digit codes, and from there, any player worldwide can enter the code and match up against other players online with the rental squad.

Rental teams have provided a new avenue for Pokémon Sword and Shield players to test the waters of the competitive side of the game. Screenshot via Pokémon Sword & Shield

The game doesn't organize the available teams in any efficient way, though, so the Pokémon community has come together to build rental-team resources at sites like Victory Road and Trainer Tower.

"Rental teams are a great way to try out different team compositions before breeding and training them yourself," Stadter said. "It makes competitive play very accessible, and it's even possible to get a high rank using rental teams while improving and seeing other players' strategies. I have exclusively used rental teams so far in online play because I haven't decided yet what team I want to get in-game."

Sword and Shield is still fresh, having been released only in November. The 2020 competitive season doesn't kick off until Jan. 4, but fans will have their first chance to see top players test out their new teams at the Victory Road World Champion Invitational 2020 on Saturday. Eight winners of past championships will all meet in the community-run tournament.

Corviknight is one of the new Pokemon in Sword and Shield. Provided by Nintendo of America

Some of the top strategies, including new Pokémon like the steel/flying bulky bird Corviknight and the fossilized water/dragon-type monster Dracovish, are available for up-and-coming players to try out and tweak without ever catching or optimizing them. Chua, for example, reached the No. 1 spot in ranked online play after adopting the team composition of the Japanese player whose team he's renting but slightly altering the moves those Pokémon used.

"It's a strong tool that is going to help players to get in touch with already tested teams so they can practice different play styles and archetypes in a fast way without having to invest time in getting the team ready in-game," said Ecuadorian Pokémon player Paul Ruiz, who is competing in the invitational, "while at the same time letting them explore different options directly from top players that share their teams."

The rental teams are a welcome addition to the community, especially after Game Freak announced that only 450 Pokémon would be available in Sword and Shield, down from the total 800 Pokémon in the series. It's a change that will continue into future titles as well, as all upcoming games will feature a different combination of creatures rather than the full Pokédex, according to the game developer.

"Regional formats aren't affected at all by this change, but National and Restricted Dex might not see the light anymore," competitive player Dave Cognetta said. "Personally speaking, this is a positive change. It helps the balance of the game and avoids multiple threats running rampant all at the same time, avoiding an increase of the power creep year by year. It also gives the chance for more uncommon Pokémon to shine in a limited context, where they don't need to fear competition with other, often better, Pokémon similar to them."

The Pokémon Company adjusts the tournament rule set each season, meaning that some years already featured a limited set of monsters. Competition in 2014 and 2017 was restricted to Pokémon from the new Kalos and Alola regions, respectively. The limited number of Pokémon might not be completely new to players, but it could encourage different metagames and team compositions.

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"Limited formats force you to use Pokémon that weren't in the limelight before, like Excadrill, Rotom-Mow and Braviary, who are a lot better this year than ever before," Stadter said. "In National Dex formats like 2013, 2015 or 2018, Pokémon like Cresselia, Heatran and Landorus-Therian were always popular because they are well-rounded and they outclass a lot of other Pokémon."

Even if The Pokémon Company decides to use the national Pokedex for future tournaments, making almost every Pokémon in-game available for competition, it would still be restricted in that each game has only 450 monsters to choose from. We'd still see unorthodox choices and a wider variety of strategies at the highest level of play.

While we might not see the Pokédex change have a huge effect this year, it could mix things up down the line. On the other hand, the rising utility of rental teams means we could see some fresh faces and new strategies at the championship on Saturday.

For Chua, who has been around the competitive Pokémon community for years, a squad built off of for-hire pocket monsters might have some staying power.

"I really like the way it feels," he said, "so I will probably try and build off it."

Friday, December 27, 2019

‘Pokemon Masters’ 1.5.0 Adds Mission Bingo, Daily Mission Renewals, Tutorial Updates, Difficulty Updates, and More on iOS and Android

TouchArcade Rating:

Pokemon Masters (Free) on iOS and Android has felt a bit different when compared to other Pokemon mobile games. In terms of content and upcoming updates, we've had an update roadmap for a little while now but it still feels like there's a lot more to come for players. While I'm sure some players got back to the game for the Pokemon Sword & Shield celebration that gave all players 60 gems, today's update seems like a good step at getting players back.

Version 1.5.0 for Pokemon Masters has a new Mission Bingo feature. This has weekly Mission Bingo and standard Mission Bingo cards. Once you complete any of them, you get rewards. This includes vertical, horizontal, diagonal, and blackout completion. Daily Vouchers have been added to the game with this update that you can exchange for training items. 100 non-paid gems will be sent alongside the tutorial update on December 24th. Supercourses replays are now down to 1 time while the rewards have been tripled. With this update Super Hard Difficulty has been added to all areas of the main story in co-op. Some of the content in the update will be live on January 7th, 2020.

If you've not downloaded it yet and want to try the game, you can download Pokemon Masters for free on the App Store and Google Play right now. Check out the official website for it here. What do you think of the state of Pokemon Masters right now?

Facebook adds two Pokémon games for the first time

Facebook Gaming has launched two new Pokémon games on its Instant Games platform. These two games are Pokémon Tower Battle and Pokémon Medallion Battle. Pokémon Tower Battle is available worldwide starting today while Pokémon Medallion Battle has been unveiled in the Asia-Pacific region only.Pokémon Tower Battle is developed by card games and toy company Bombay Play, while Pokémon Medallion Battle is developed by GCTurbo that makes games for Messenger. This July, Facebook had migrated Instant Games from Messenger to Facebook and the Facebook Gaming tab.In Pokémon Tower Battle, the challenge for players is to stack Pokémon against one another. The one who builds the tallest Pokémon tower wins. Apart from discovering, catching and levelling-up rare Pokémon, users can play against friends or other players globally in real time. As per Facebook, "it might seem like a simple physics-based puzzler at first, but the strategic choices in where and how players stack Pokémon will determine the true Tower Battle masters." Pokémon Medallion Battle, on the other hand, is a digital card battle strategy game. The game lets trainers collect, battle and evolve the Pokémon in medallion form. They can also journey with their companions and win gym badges and complete their Pokédex. Tsunekazu Ishihara, CEO, The Pokémon Company, said, "Launching these games through Facebook will allow people all over the world to experience Pokémon in digital form, and we are especially thrilled to collaborate with Facebook Gaming in enabling new audiences to enjoy Pokémon games online." With Instant Games, you can play new games in Messenger in groups or alone. The games offered by Instant Games on Facebook are Ludo Club, Ludo World, Chess, Uno, Candy Match, Super Cricket etc. Some of the games offered through Facebook Gaming are 8 Ball Pool, Hill Climb Racing, Rope Cut, CPL Tournament: Cricket League, Perfect Slices, Carrom Club, Super Bowling, Word Blitz etc.

Thursday, December 26, 2019

The Pokémon Company Just Released Two New Pokémon Games On Facebook

Tower Battle

The Pokémon Company has announced two new games for Facebook: Pokémon Tower Battle and Pokémon Medallion Battle.

Tower Battle is described as a physics-based puzzler, has been developed by Bombay Play, and is available now worldwide. Here's the full description:

Pokémon Tower Battle, available now worldwide, is a unique take on the Pokémon franchise: players compete by stacking Pokémon against one another to create the tallest Pokémon towers. As players discover, catch and level-up rare Pokémon, they can compete in real-time against friends or across a global leaderboard. It might seem like a simple physics-based puzzler at first, but the strategic choices in where and how players stack Pokémon will determine the true Tower Battle masters.

Medallion Battle

Medallion Battle is currently available to players in the Asia-Pacific region and has been developed by GCTurbo. It's a digital card battle strategy game requiring the player to collect, battle and evolve pocket monsters.

Pokémon Medallion Battle, now available to players in the Asia-Pacific region, is a digital card battle strategy game. In the game, trainers collect, battle and evolve Pokémon in medallion form and embark on a journey with their companions to win gym badges and complete their Pokédex. Players can also discover new Pokémon--introduced every month--to create even better decks.

The Pokémon Company CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara said launching the games through Facebook would allow people from all around the world to experience Pokémon in digital form. The company is also "especially thrilled" to be collaborating with Facebook Gaming, which allows new audiences to enjoy the Pokémon games online.

Will you be checking out either of these games? Comment down below.

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Two new Pokémon games launch on Facebook Gaming

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  • Two new Pokémon games launch on Facebook Gaming New, 4 comments

    Pokémon Tower Battle and Pokémon Medallion Battle are Facebook exclusives

    By James Vincent Dec 24, 2019, 5:42am EST Share this story
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  • A pair of new Pokémon games have launched exclusively on Facebook Gaming: Pokémon Tower Battle and Pokémon Medallion Battle.

    Pokémon Tower Battle is available worldwide, and pits two players against one another. You take it in turns to drop pokémon out of the sky like Tetris blocks, trying to build a stable tower. If you knock the tower over or your pokémon tumbles off the platform, you lose.

    We tried the game ourselves and it seems pretty mindless, though the press release promises some new features as you play: "As players discover, catch and level-up rare pokémon, they can compete in real-time against friends or across a global leaderboard. It might seem like a simple physics-based puzzler at first, but the strategic choices in where and how players stack pokémon will determine the true Tower Battle masters."

    Pokémon Medallion Battle, by comparison, sounds like it has a little more depth, but it's only available to play in the Philippines right now.

    It's a digital card battle game that allows you collect pokémon in the form of medallions. You can level them up, win gym badges, and try to fill out your Pokédex, with new pokémon being released every month, according to Variety. Judging by the screenshots below the game uses the usual element-based combat system, and even offers some social features.

    Both titles were built using Facebook's Instant Games platform and come as the company makes more of an effort to attract gamers. Earlier this year, it launched a dedicated gaming tab, and Facebook now says that more than 700 million of its users play games, watch gaming videos, or take part in gaming groups each month. The company also recently acquired Spanish cloud gaming company PlayGiga.

    In a press release, Pokémon Company CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara welcomed the launch of the new titles: "Launching these games through Facebook will allow people all over the world to experience Pokémon in digital form, and we are especially thrilled to collaborate with Facebook Gaming in enabling new audiences to enjoy Pokémon games online."

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    Monday, December 23, 2019

    “Pokémon Masters” Receives A Holiday Event With Decorations

    DeNA officially started up their own event in Pokémon Masters today as we get a few new additions, but mostly decoration and costumes. We have the full set of additions for you below, including a new look for the Pokémon Center, a story event that kicks off on December 23rd, and some special bonuses just for logging in.

    Credit: DeNA
  • See Trainers In Festive Outfits – Throughout the holiday season, players will have the opportunity to see sync pairs Rosa & Delibird and Siebold & Octazooka in festive outfits that are exclusive to Pokémon Masters. These sync pairs will be available to add to players' teams from now until December 31, 9:59PM Pacific via a limited-time seasonal sync pair scout. They may also make cameos in other areas of the game in the future.
  • Explore the Holiday-Themed Pokémon Center – An in-game story event titled "Rosa's Party" will allow players to experience the Pokémon Center in a whole new way – fully decorated for the holiday season! Players will also be able to embark on an adventure with Rosa to throw a party and bring some holiday cheer to Pasio. Rosa & Delibird can also be challenged in co-op mode to obtain special items used to upgrade sync pairs. This in-game event is available now and runs until December 31, 9:59PM Pacific, and is available to players who have completed Chapter 5 of the Main Story.
  • Story Event – "A Special Present": Players who complete the in-game event "Rosa's Party" will have the option to continue the story and earn up to 1,000 gems by playing "A Special Present", a very limited-time story event that will run from December 23 10:00PM Pacific to December 24 9:59PM Pacific.
  • Login Bonuses: Players who login from now until December 25 9:59PM Pacific will have the opportunity to earn Evolution Crystals and up to 3,900 gems.
  • Enjoyed this article? Share it! About Gavin Sheehan

    Gavin has been a lifelong geek who can chat with you about comics, television, video games, and even pro wrestling. He can also teach you how to play Star Trek chess, be your Mercy on Overwatch, recommend random cool music, and goes rogue in D&D. He also enjoys standup comedy, Let's Play videos and trying new games, along with hundreds of other geeky things that can't be covered in a single paragraph. Follow @TheGavinSheehan on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Vero, for random pictures and musings.

         

    Sunday, December 22, 2019

    Pokemon Go Buddy Adventures will be launching soon

    Niantic has announced that its new multiplayer AR feature, 'Buddy Adventures' will be launching soon and has shared a new promotional video in the process.

    In 'Buddy Adventures', trainers can experience a more in-depth exploration with their Pokemon buddy. Some of the features include battling with your buddy, feeding it treats, playing to increase its level and knowing its mood.

    Niantic mentions that the feature should be available in early 2020 on both iOS and Android versions. You can learn more about 'Buddy Adventures' and the finer details by reading the blog post on Niantic's website.

    Pokemon Go is an augmented reality game where trainers find, capture and battle Pokemon by walking around and exploring their surroundings.

    Upcoming games include Pokemon Sleep, which allows trainers to level up their Pokemon by getting a good night's sleep and the recently-released Pokemon Masters, a traditional RPG game where you battle various trainers with different Pokemon.

    This is the Pokemon Go Buddy Adventures.

    This is the Pokemon Go Buddy Adventures.

    Friday, December 20, 2019

    Why Pokémon Sword and Shield are my games of the year

    a close up of a toy

    Pokémon Red is the first game I can remember playing myself. And while revolutionary for the time, the rudimentary, 8-bit graphics of the series left a lot to the imagination. Pretend this grass hides wild pokémon. Imagine this pokémon is wielding vast elemental powers. Picture an epic gym battle for the right to be the champion of the entire country. The Game Boy classics could never live up to the dream they were selling. With Pokémon Sword and Shield, though, you don't have to imagine. For the first time, developer Game Freak has brought the world of Pokémon to life in a way that the pixel-art of Red and Blue never could.

    Sword and Shield's Galar region feels alive to me in a way that no Pokémon game ever has. Wild pokémon peer their head out of the grass as I adventure along the path, ambling along in their native habits like the wild creatures we've always been told they were. There's the pervasive sports culture (complete with practice fields, rowdy fans, and merchandise) around Pokémon battles that makes my adventure feel a part of the world.

    And then there are Dynamax gym battles. For decades, the Pokémon games have told me that I was a legendary trainer, facing down the world's greatest pokémon masters in huge battles, but Sword and Shield finally shows that. It's one thing to be told that you're competing in a country-wide league against the pros — but it's another to see building-sized pokémon duking it out in a massive stadium to the roaring cheers of a huge crowd.

    On top of all that is the Wild Area, the crown jewel of Sword and Shield, which feels like the future of the franchise. A wide open area to explore, with different biomes, filled with dozens of different pokémon just wandering around and massive Dynamax and Gigantamax raid battles that let players team up across the internet for truly legendary pokémon battles. You can camp with your pokémon, creating delicious snacks to share or just play fetch with them. It's so much fun to explore and see what rare or interesting pokémon is around the next corner, in fact, that it's responsible for sidetracking most of my playthrough of the actual gyms and storyline.

    That's before getting into all the quality-of-life changes that Game Freak has made with Sword and Shield, cutting out unnecessary cruft like limited-use move teaching items, environmental moves like Fly and Surf that were essential to travel, and the requirement to have to travel back to a town to change up your team's lineup. Sword and Shield even does its best to be transparent about that with in-battle menus, allowing players to see which moves are most effective or what temporary stat effects are in play. The games mark the biggest step forward in ridding the series from the annoying artificial barriers to fun it had erected over the years, and in turn make more high-level aspects of the long-running RPG series even more accessible.

    Sword and Shield are still easy games by nearly any metric, at least for the main storyline. But with the maddeningly difficult Battle Tower and the sheer delight of exploring the Wild Area and taking on the endgame multiplayer raids, there's plenty of depth for more mature fans willing to put the effort in to train the ultimate team of competitive fighters.

    But the difficulty almost doesn't matter. The games themselves are less Pokémon game and more like a lovingly created, playable version of the popular anime. I vividly remember playing Pokémon Red all those years ago and wondering if the games would ever reach the point of the cartoons, creating a world where wild pokémon roam free and my battles had the stakes that Ash Ketchum's did. With Sword and Shield, the series finally caught up to my imagination.

    To me, Pokémon Sword and Shield highlight the possibilities of what modern video games — with all our technological advancements — can be, bringing what were once childhood dreams to interactive life. After two decades of getting closer to that reality, Sword and Shield make it real. They're not only the best Pokémon games ever made — they're the best video games I've played all year.

    Wednesday, December 18, 2019

    'Pokémon Masters' Lurking Shadows Event: How to Obtain Giovanni and Mewtwo

    A new event type has arrived in Pokémon Masters, giving players a chance to obtain the powerful Sync Pair of Giovanni and Mewtwo.

    Yes, this is Giovanni of Team Rainbow Rocket from Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon. The story of how he arrived on Pasio - the region of Pokémon Masters- is told in a new chapter, and his interactions with the main antagonists of the game - Team Break - take center stage.

    If you're looking to obtain Giovanni and Mewtwo in Pokémon Masters, here's everything you need to know, including how long you have until the event ends and the best Sync Pairs to take into battle with the boss of Team Rainbow Rocket.

    POKEMON MASTERS GIOVANNI AND MEWTWO EVENT TIME

    Pokémon Masters players will have a couple weeks to obtain Giovanni and Mewtwo. From Thursday, December 5 to Thursday, December 19 at 12:59 p.m. EST, the special event takes place.

    HOW TO OBTAIN GIOVANNI AND MEWTWO IN POKEMON MASTERS

    To recruit Giovanni and Mewtwo as a Sync Pair in Pokémon Masters, players will have to play a lot of the game and collect special tickets.

    Collect 800 "Lurking Shadow" Tickets to open up a new chapter of the story to recruit Giovanni and Mewtwo. There are four stages in particular that will help players obtain these special items. The single-player battle against Giovanni and Mewtwo is a quick and easy way to grind these tickets if you are not at a high enough level. However, going to the co-op battles is a much faster way of earning these tickets.

    Not only will completing each co-op battle difficulty the first time give a large amount of tickets, but it's also the best way to accrue tickets faster. You can easily earn 20 tickets every time you win the Hard difficulty, for example.

    With 800 tickets to earn, players will need to be patient to recruit this powerful duo.

    Players will also notice event-exclusive items they can earn. These items will have Mewtwo and Giovanni's face on the corner and will be required to unlock the Sync Pair's level cap and learn moves and skills. so you should go back and farm for these items even after obtaining them.

    BEST SYNC PAIRS TO DEFEAT GIOVANNI AND MEWTWO

    Giovanni and Team Break will try and overwhelm you and your Sync Pairs, but if you bring these types of Pokémon into battle you will do fine even at higher difficulties.

    Mewtwo is a Psychic-type Pokémon that is weak to Dark-type attacks so bringing as many Dark as you can into the battle will benefit you. Depending on the difficulty level you take on, you may also want to consider bringing an Electric-type Pokémon as well.

    If you need an Electric-type, Hau and his Alolan Raichu is a great choice that can be obtained in the main story. Elesa and Zebstrike are a powerful five-star Sync Pair that will also help you in battle.

    As for dealing with Mewtwo, Cheren and Stoutland are a five-star Sync Pair that, while not being a Dark-type, has access to Crunch, a Dark-type attack. This pair is also obtained in the main story. If you're fortunate enough to obtain Grimsley and Liepard or Karen and Houdoom - two five-star Sync Pairs - bring them into battle too.

    Level those Sync Pairs up to max, and you'll eventually be able to take down Mewtwo and Giovanni.

    What do you think of this latest event in Pokémon Masters? Who do you bring into battle against Giovanni and Mewtwo? Let us know in the comments section.

    Monday, December 16, 2019

    “Pokémon Sword & Shield” Surprise Trade Christmas Devised

    Pokémon is a fairly complex game series in a competitive sense. The game is simple to learn and once learned even simpler to beat the plot of the games, but when playing competitively, it can get rough to really be a genuine Pokémon master. It stands to reason that new players are in an even worse position than most vets of the series, generally not knowing the mechanics of Effort Values, Individual Values, etc.

    Thankfully, Pokémon players with a social media presence have devised a plan that's sure to be a tradition in years to come. They have decided to publicly showcase a program to utilize the Surprise Trade function on Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield for seasoned players to trade away superfluous Pokémon that they've bred or caught to benefit new players, including those who have gotten the game for the holiday season.

    Pokémon Sword & Shield "Surprise Trade Christmas" DevisedSource: Aminoapps.com

    This is an excellent opportunity for players new and experienced to trade Pokémon with each other for an additional benefit as well, for if you have enough traded Pokémon in your storage box inventory in the game, the "Roto-Loto", a lottery system based on the number of individual players' Pokémon that you currently own, will be more likely to yield various significant prizes. This includes PP Ups, PP Maxes, Rare Candies, and even the coveted Master Ball.

    Why is the Master Ball so important nowadays? Well, when you do Max Raids in Pokémon Sword or Pokémon Shield, there is a slim chance that the Pokémon you will be facing is a Gigantamax-variant Pokémon (meaning it's literally gigantic, with a veritable form change to it). If you beat a Pokémon in a Max Raid, you have a single chance to catch it, and if you fail, it flees (and you'll have to do another Max Raid all over again to find it). Gigantamax Pokémon have an abysmal chance of capture, so the Master Ball, a Pokéball that has 100% chance of capture, is sought after by many players. Only one is guaranteed to players at the end of the plot, though, so getting more is a huge deal if players want to ensure they get the elusive Pokémon in their Max Raids (especially if they're shiny!).

    Now, as for what should be traded off, Pokémon that you have bred to get good stats for competitive play are almost always a wise decision (new players don't really mind any stat-line, but it just makes the experience more enjoyable). Extra starters are often a good choice to trade away, as are fossil Pokémon, version-exclusive Pokémon, and Pokémon that are rather difficult to get ahold of in the first place (think Ditto, or other such things, for example). Or, you could express a bit of snark and send naughty players Rolycoly.

    Pokémon Sword & Shield "Surprise Trade Christmas" DevisedYou'd better watch out. Source: Bulbapedia

    If this appeals to your spirit of holiday giving, trade away! Have a good time giving new Pokémon to new players, and enjoy the benefits of interacting with many other players!

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    Sunday, December 15, 2019

    Pokémon Masters Gets Festive With Holiday-Themed Content

    Heads up trainers, Pokémon Masters is getting in the holiday spirit. The game is going through a festive update that has introduced some limited time special content which you surely won't want to miss.

    For starters, there's a new in-game story event to play through which will reward you with in-game items that fit the seasonal theme.

    What's more is that you'll get to see all of the seasonal holiday decorations, which tends to be a fun little aspect of any game that chooses to implement them.

    If you're playing this game, or if you've thought about it, now would be a good time to jump in and give it a try.

    "A Special Present" story event starts December 23

    The upcoming story event doesn't happen for almost another two weeks, as it starts on December 23 promptly at 10 PM PST.

    This is a very limited time event as it will only last for 24 hours. So it'll end on December 24 at 9:59 PM PST. To make it worth engaging with the content, will earn 1,000 gems.

    To play the A Special Present in-game event you'll need to first complete the in-game event called Rosa's Party. So if you haven't done that you will want to finish it before the upcoming event starts on the 23rd.

    Rosa's Party begins today and runs through the end of the month, but because you need to finish this before A Special Present if you want access to it, you'll want to do it as soon as possible. Also worth noting is that you will need to complete chapter 5 of the main story to access Rosa's Party.

    Holiday themed Pokémon centers and festive outfits galore

    During the two new story events, the Pokémon center in the game will be decorated with all kinds of festive holiday stuff. From Christmas trees to banners and more.

    It will also be possible to see some of the trainers all dressed up in festive outfits. Players can also obtain trainers in holiday dress as part of the themed sync pairs. However, these are only available for a limited time as well.

    They can be added as a sync pair starting from today but will only be available until December 31 at 9:59 PM PST. There will also be login bonuses available for players.

    Each day you login to play the game from now until December 25 at 9:59 PM PST, you can earn up to 3,900 gems as well as a handful of evolution crystals.

    Saturday, December 14, 2019

    Pokemon Masters Adds Giovanni and Mewtwo

    Pokemon Masters, the free-to-play Pokemon mobile game that pits players against Gym leader, trainers, and other characters from across the franchise, has added the powerful sync pair of Giovanni & Mewtwo to the game. Giovanni, if you've somehow forgotten, is notorious for being the dastardly leader of Team Rocket, while Mewtwo is the devastatingly powerful Psychic-type clone of Mew.

    The new sync pair is featured as part of a Legendary Event called "Lurking Shadow" in Pokemon Masters. Said event is available from now through December 18th at 9:59pm PT. That gives folks just about two weeks to try their luck. "This event will allow players to battle against Giovanni & Mewtwo while also gaining more insight into their arrival on the island of Pasio and their relationship with Team Break, the primary antagonists of the game," the press release announcing all of this states.

    Folks who earn enough in-game rewards during the event can unlock the new sync pair, and special event-only items will also be required to unlock its level cap as well as learn moves and skills. In short, if you want the best possible Giovanni & Mewtwo sync pair, you're going to want to play through the event a whole bunch. Speaking of level caps, it has also been raised from 100 to 120 overall in Pokemon Masters.

    What do you think of the game's new sync pair? Are you playing Pokemon Masters? Let us know in the comments, or hit me up directly on Twitter at @rollinbishop to talk all things gaming!

    The free-to-play Pokemon Masters is currently available for iOS and Android. The mobile game has been trying to come back from a rocky launch with significant changes and updates. You can check out all of our previous coverage of the Pokemon game right here.

    Friday, December 13, 2019

    Pokémon Masters Gets Into the Holiday Spirit with Festive Trainer Outfits and Holiday-Themed Pokémon Center

    [unable to retrieve full-text content]Holiday themed content is coming to Pokémon Masters including festive trainer outfits and more. Throughout the holiday season, players will have the opportunity to see sync pairs Rosa and Delibird and ...

    Wednesday, December 11, 2019

    Pokémon Sword and Shield review: Pikachu and pals come to Britain

    It’s clear from the off that Game Freak really did its research when it made its decision to base the new region, Galar, on Britain. I spent the first few hours of Pokémon Sword whooping with delight every time someone called me ‘mate’, or I went to the clothes shop and saw ‘trackie bottoms’ on sale. Heck, this is the first time any English Pokémon game has correctly identified the protagonist’s mother as ‘mum’, rather than ‘mom’. 

    The game begins in the sleepy hamlet of Postwick, where I immediately felt at home. Nestled amongst rolling farmland, surrounded by the new sheep-like Pokémon Wooloo, I almost felt like Game Freak had taken my memories of growing up in the rural North West and Poké-fied them all. 

    Greeted outside of my thatched cottage by my cheerful and mildly-irritating rival, Hop, we set off to meet his older brother, Leon, the greatest Pokémon master in Galar who is coming to present us with a gift. 

    It won’t come as much of a surprise to fans of the series that Leon’s gift is a choice between grass, fire, and water-type starter Pokémon. Here the options are a green monkey named Grookey, a bouncy flaming rabbit Scorbunny, and a rather sad, weepy chameleon named Sobble.

    Monday, December 9, 2019

    Pokemon Masters Mewtwo event arrives with Pokemon Sword and Shield Nintendo Switch news

    Pokemon Masters Mewtwo event is live

    Pokemon Masters Mewtwo event is live (Image: POKEMON COMPANY)

    The first legendary event has begun in Pokemon Masters, starring Giovanni & Mewtwo as the dastardly stars.

    The new Sync Pair are available to battle now and can even be added to your squad.

    The Pokemon Company confirms that by complete their story, you'll be able to add the 5-star sync pair to your roster.

    And their powerful sync move, World Domination Psystrike, will undoubtedly prove valuable to your team.

    "If you're having trouble defeating Giovanni & Mewtwo, remember that they're weak to Dark-type moves," a message from the Pokemon Company explains.

    "Confronting them with sync pairs like Grimsley & Liepard, Nanu & Persian, or Cheren & Stoutland will give you an advantage.

    "Taking on Giovanni & Mewtwo in co-op battles will earn you more drops of custom items as well if you're up to the challenge.

    "Once you team up with Giovanni & Mewtwo, you can use custom items to unlock this shady duo's level cap and allow them to learn new moves."

    Pokemon Masters Trainers on Android and iOS will also get the chance to receive up to 4,200 gems within a 14-day period through log-in bonuses.

    So it'll be worth checking back regularly over the coming days, and during the special Legendary Rally.

    The Pokemon Company has also confirmed that following this Legendary event, Indigo Plateau Champion and his Pokémon, Lance & Dragonite, and the Sinnoh region Champion and her Pokémon, Cynthia & Garchomp will be added to the game.

    This is happening in the coming weeks and before the end of 2020.

    And that's not the only big Pokemon news this week, following a big reveal made by Nintendo for Pokemon Sword and Shield fans.

    To celebrate the start of December, the Pokemon Sword and Shield developer has updated the in-game weather for winter.

    Players who take a stroll in the game's wild areas will notice that it's now snowing in the exploration zones.

    Likewise, if you're short of Ice type Pokemon in your Pokedex, you can expect to encounter more frosty Pocket Monsters for the month of December.

    It's similar to the kind of thing you'd see in the likes of live service, online games like Pokemon Go.

    Perhaps this means we'll be treated to special Christmas events and other bonuses as the game continues to evolve.

    It follows the release of the new Snorlax Gigantamax update on the Nintendo Switch.

    Players will be able to battle against Gigantamax Snorlax in Max Raid battles from now until early January.

    "These Snorlax are capable of Gigantamaxing! When Gigantamaxed, these special Snorlax gain a different appearance than regular Dynamax Snorlax, and they can also unleash a G-Max Move called G-Max Replenish," a message from Nintendo explains.

    And there's more Pokemon news for gamers who play the hit mobile game, Pokemon Go. A new evolution event is kicking off at 9pm, GMT, today, December 5.

    The Pokemon Go evolution will include a special Raid Day on Saturday, December 7, as well as boosts for catching special evolution types.

    New Pokemon Go Field Research has also been promised and is likely to go live later today.

    Sunday, December 8, 2019

    Giovanni and Mewtwo Added to Pokémon Masters

    Pokémon has taken over both consoles and mobile devices in the recent months. Sword and Shield has been dominating the Switch but Pokémon Masters achieved great numbers for iOS and Android. Now, a new challenger has appeared and he's one of the most infamous characters from the series.

    Giovanni, the leader of Team Rocket and Team Rainbow Rocket, has now appeared in the game. He is teamed with one of the most powerful Pokémon in existence, Mewtwo. They are a Five Star Sync Pair that can use World Domination Psystrike to deliver devastating damage. Once they are defeated, you can use them throughout the game with custom items and new moves.

    Learn more about the addition of Giovanni and Mewtwo on the official website. You can even see them featured in the promo trailer below. Giovanni was also included in a recent Pokémon GO update which goes to show just how much reach he has in taking over the world.

    The Best Gifts For Pokémon Fans

    Everyone loves Pokémon, and you'll be able to show the world how much you appreciate the darling little Pocket Monsters with some of these awesome gifts on offer. Whether you know aspiring Pokémon Masters or friends and family just looking to get into the craze, these options should delight any fan, young or old.

    Just be careful, because you may end up hoping you can keep some of these great picks for yourself. When they're this affordable, you may as well! From water bottles to functional banks that even feature little Pikachu swiping your pocket change, there's something for everyone here.

    Pokemon: Detective Pikachu Blu-Ray

    Detective Pikachu

    Detective Pikachu, the first live-action Pokemon movie, is a near-masterpiece we still can't stop thinking about. You owe it to yourself to bring home this mind-blowing translation of the Pokemon universe and relive its weird majesty again and again.

    Buy it Here

    Pokemon Sword and Shield for Nintendo Switch

    Pokemon Sword / Shield Steelbook Double Edition

    Based on early sales numbers, chances are you already bought Pokemon Sword and/or Shield, the first core Pokemon RPGs for a home console the Nintendo Switch. Stupid Pokedex controversy aside, this is a great game, introducing exciting open-world aspects we can't wait to see expanded in later games.

    Buy it Here

    Detective Pikachu Interactive Talking Plush

    After watching Detective Pikachu, you're going to want a hat-wearing, coffee-sipping, word-talking electric mouse of your very own. This interactive talking plush is your best option.

    Buy it Here

    Pokémon Poké Ball Waffle Maker

    Pokémon Poké Ball Waffle Maker (Photo Credit: ThinkGeek)

    Upgrade your breakfast of champions with this Pokémon Poké Ball Waffle Maker. It creates delicious golden Poké Ball waffles in a pinch, all you have to do is plug it in, pour your batter, and cook for four to five minutes. Just make sure to invite your crew over for brunch, because this waffle maker beats avocado toast and mimosas.

    Buy it Here

    Pokémon Pikachu Coin Bank

    Pokémon Pikachu Coin Bank (Photo Credit: ThinkGeek)

    Not only does this bank feature a Poké Ball image on the front, but it also does something pretty neat. When you put a coin on the plate, little Pikachu reaches out to grab the coin and pull it back into the bank. What better incentive to help you and your friends save money? Know someone getting ready to get married? Help them start a rainy day fund with this conversation piece and working bank!

    Buy it Here

    Pokémon Cereal Bowl Set

    Pokémon Cereal Bowl Set (Photo Credit: ThinkGeek)

    Catch 'em all (and a good breakfast) with this Pokémon Cereal Set. It comes with four bowls, including a Pikachu-printed one for your favorite granola, Cheerios, and more. Gift this set to a friend and yourself if your dishware needs some TLC.

    Buy it Here

    Pokémon Trainer Duffle Bag

    Pokémon Trainer Duffle Bag (Photo Credit: ThinkGeek)

    Carry all your important trainer necessities with this awesome and sturdy duffel bag. Whether going to the gym or setting off on a new Pokémon adventure, it should have plenty of space to hold everything you could possibly need, and then some. Plus, it lets the rest of the world know what your life mission is: training Pokémon with the best of 'em!

    Buy it Here

    Pokémon Golden Lotus Flowers Backpack

    Pokémon Golden Lotus Flowers Backpack (Photo Credit: ThinkGeek)

    Need a new backpack for hauling your weekend outfits to a friend's? Going to school? Cop this Goldeen-adorned backpack with a righteous pattern, or give it to someone you know with some serious Pokémon style. It looks like it should be able to weather some serious abuse, so it looks like the perfect candidate for school use as well.

    Buy it Here

    Pokémon Over-Ear Headphones w/ Mic

    Pokémon Over-Ear Headphones w/ Mic (Photo Credit: ThinkGeek)

    Cue up your favorite tracks from the Pokémon anime series and bump 'em with these attractive Pokémon headphones. They look just like the iconic Poké Balls you capture the adorable monsters with, and they'll definitely help you or your giftee to make new friends while hanging out in the world. That's an easy way to make new trainer acquaintances, you know!

    Buy it Now

    Pokémon 20-Once Glass Water Bottle

    Pokémon 20-Ounce Glass Water Bottle (Photo Credit: ThinkGeek)

    Stay hydrated with this sturdy glass water bottle. It's covered in Pokémon and other fun things from the series, so you can make sure you're getting enough water on the go as well as looking cute. It's tough to do all that at once, but somehow this bottle does it all. That makes it a must-buy.

    See it Here

    Poké Ball Print Skirt

    Poké Ball Print Skirt (Photo Credit: ThinkGeek)

    Make a statement with this unique printed Pokémon skirt, rife with Poké Balls all over it. Pair it with a nice solid-colored top to keep everyone's attention on this statement piece, which is an excellent gift for any fashion-conscious Pokémon fan in your life, and there are a ton of us out there, thank you very much.

    Buy it Here

    More on Geek.com:

    Saturday, December 7, 2019

    Pokémon Masters Adds Mewtwo & Team Rocket Leader 'Giovanni'

    A new sync pair has arrived in Pokémon Masters, which means you will have new character pairs to acquire and new story content quests to complete.

    The new pair arriving in the game are Giovanni, the leader of Team Rocket, and his Pokémon Mewtwo.

    Those who have played the original Pokémon games on Gameboy will no doubt remember the extreme power that Mewtwo had, so there's a fair chance this will be a pair that you want to grab.

    The pair is part of an in-game event

    As has been customary with other new sync pairs in the game from launch until now, Giovanni and Mewtwo will be part of an in-game event that players will progress through.

    The event, called Lurking Shadow, only lasts till December 18 so anyone planning to pick up this sync pair for their collection will want to get started as soon as they can.

    Keep in mind you won't get the pair immediately. First you will need to play through the story of their arrival. As part of that you'll battle Giovanni and Mewtwo, and then gain the ability to pick them up as a sync pair that you can use alongside your main character.

    You will need to play event content to unlock special moves for the pair

    In addition to gaining the duo from the event, you will need to play the event content to access some stuff for them. Specifically higher levels and certain abilities.

    Unlocking the level cap can only be done with a certain type of item. And, you can only acquire that item from the event content. Certain special abilities will also require these special event items.

    What that means for players is that you shouldn't stop playing Lurking Shadow missions or quests simply because you now have Giovanni and Mewtwo. At least not if you want reach max level and acquire new moves.

    The max level has been increased to 120 from 100, and will apply to all your sync pairs. So once you unlock it you can raise more pairs up to that level than just Giovanni and Mewtwo.

    You will also learn about Giovanni and Mewtwo's connection to the game's main antagonists Team Break. So if you're playing this game partly for the story then there's more incentive to participate in the event.

    Lurking Shadow is currently live within the game, which means you can login right now and get started.

    Friday, December 6, 2019

    Legendary Pokémon Mewtwo and Giovanni Now Available in Pokemon Masters

    [unable to retrieve full-text content]Legendary Pokémon Mewtwo and Giovanni are now available in Pokemon Masters. More information was detailed in a press release. Giovanni and Mewtwo will be featured in an in-game event titled "Lurking ...

    Thursday, December 5, 2019

    You Can Now Recruit Mewtwo and Giovanni in Pokémon Masters

    The Legendary Pokémon Mewtwo and sync partner Giovanni are now available in Pokémon Masters, and you can recruit them right away.

    To do so, simply beat the new in-game event Lurking Shadow, which will run between now and December 18.

    You'll learn more about the Pokémon and its master and why they have arrived on Pasio during the new story content, which also details their relationship with Team Break.

    That's not all either. The level cap has been increased to 120, giving you a new excuse to play, and you can also recruit Grimsley and Liepard.

    If you're interested, you can grab Pokémon Masters or the update right now on Google Play to get recruiting the new Pokémon.

    What’s the enduring power of ‘Pokémon’? A newbie and expert discuss over ‘Shield’ and ‘Sword’

    About two years ago I was in the presence of royalty.

    Junichi Masuda, long instrumental in driving the development of the "Pokemon" franchise, stood up at the end of our 45-minute interview at the Electronic Entertainment Expo. After goodbyes, via a translator, there was a brief awkward moment as no one appeared to be moving. A Nintendo rep noticed the tension and quietly asked if I wanted a photograph with the master game developer.

    Nintendo and Masuda were so accustomed to accommodating requests for a picture that it was practically an anomaly when there wasn't one, even in this professional setting. Masuda has been with the "Pokemon" series since its mid-1990s beginnings and is therefore a key figure in one of the most prominent cultural mainstays of the past two decades, an interactive creator who has had a major hand in generation-defining pop-art.

    When the early wave of the "Pokemon" craze hit in 1996, I was nearing the end of high school; my interests were more "Trainspotting" and "Quake" rather than Pikachu and Squirtle. My first "Pokemon" experience was "Pokemon GO," more of an augmented reality sensation than a proper "Pokemon" adventure. When I spoke to Masuda it was before the release of "Let's Go, Pikachu!" and "Let's Go, Eevee!" and a full year before this year's "Sword" and "Shield" entries in the series, games that will assuredly be among the biggest of 2019. Nintendo has already stated that the games sold more than 6 million copies in their first weekend of release.

    During my time with Masuda, I wanted to know not just what I've been missing, but why "Pokemon" endures. His first thought: The world of "Pokemon" is "comical." And more than that, "It's a kind feeling."

    "We're definitely very careful about that," Masuda said of the cartoonish role-playing games that feature trainers raising mystical creatures and sending them off into battle. "We're not trying to portray realism, in terms of real-world realism. We want to show off this cool fantasy setting, but within that fantasy setting create a consistent realism. Even though there's moves that poison the opponent, we still make those effects that don't look super serious or intimidating."

    Battling giant "Pokémon" is new to the games "Sword" and "Shield." (Nintendo/Nintendo/TNS)

    After a couple of weeks playing "Pokemon Sword," I'm charmed. The game is full of sly asides that bring a smile to my face, whether it's nonsense weirdness such as "Ball Guy," a dude with a "Pokemon" ball as a head, or a brief run-in with some toxic fans — a moment that feels very in tune with 2019 social media, not to mention some of "Pokemon's" own community who have been acting personally attacked that the new games feature a pared-down roster of little monsters.

    But while I've been having fun, I still wanted to better understand what makes "Pokemon" a cultural force, one that remains a global franchise that can rival the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

    Luckily I work with Tracy Brown, a peer and friend whose "Pokemon" knowledge vastly outshines my own. (Earlier this year, she covered the "Detective Pikachu" film.) We decided to play "Sword" and "Shield" concurrently, to see how a knowledgeable fan and a newcomer view the same game and, in turn, what makes "Pokemon" universal.

    So Tracy, what's your initial takeaway of the new game, and what about "Pokemon" continues to speak to you?

    TRACY BROWN: I am having a blast with the new "Pokemon." As a person who grew up on a steady diet of kaiju movies and Japanese curry rice, a lot of the new features introduced in "Sword" and "Shield" — like battling giant Pokemon and cooking all kinds of curries — could not have been better tailored to appeal to someone like me. I've spent a significant amount of time on these side activities while ignoring the main narrative.

    But I'm getting ahead of myself.

    The draw of "Pokemon" for me has always been the Pokemon themselves. They're cute and they're weird and there are so many different kinds of them. The excitement of each new game is encountering brand new Pokemon and trying to catch them all. Picking a partner Pokemon at the beginning of the game is still one of my favorite parts because they basically are your in-game best friend as you go on this journey.

    As I've grown older, I've also started to appreciate the sort of gentleness of the game's fantasy world. That might sound weird since the point of the game is to have little creatures battle each other, but this is a world where parents are OK with 10-year-olds setting off on cross-country adventures to chase their dreams with nothing but a backpack and a pocket monster.

    Plus, there are free medical facilities that heal Pokemon. There are some bad guys and crime syndicates, but their plots can be foiled by kids. It's a beautiful, simple world to escape to, which I think "Sword" and "Shield" has really leaned into by playing up the pure joy people within the world get from watching Pokemon battles and the celebrity that comes with being a champion Pokemon trainer.

    The "Pokémon" world has a sense of magic. (Nintendo/Nintendo/TNS)

    My perception from how some of the gameplay has evolved over the years is that "Sword" and "Shield" are pretty new and casual player friendly.

    How are you finding the game, Todd? And most important, what starter Pokemon did you choose?

    TODD MARTENS: I didn't know what "starter Pokemon" even meant until a few years ago. I've come to realize that this choice of which creature to raise and be the primary fighter throughout the game can cause a great deal of stress to series regulars, but I didn't overthink it.

    I went with Sobble, since at the start Sobble sort of looks like a walking, sad little teardrop. Another starter, Scorbunny, struck me as overly confident and I tend to find that trait a turn-off, so give me the sad "Pokemon." That being said, Sobble has now grown into something akin to a sullen teen, so I might be scared of Sobble at the moment.

    I definitely feel like "Sword" and "Shield" are overtly friendly to newcomers in ways some of the other core games in the series didn't strike me. It's curious to me that you noted how these titles sort of play up the joy of the world, in turn maybe fleshing out the world a bit. I know "Detective Pikachu" is an oddity and an outlier in the world of "Pokemon" — a vastly different type of game experience — but the film appealed to me because of the relationships with "Pokemon" and showing what a world with "Pokemon" may look like.

    BROWN: Yes, and I think "Pokemon" being a multimedia franchise has definitely helped enrich the core story of the games over the years.

    I think "Sword" and "Shield" lets players see a world where you can really understand why a kid would want to take this journey into becoming a Pokemon champion. You also get glimpses as to how and why certain gym leaders — the various "bosses" players must challenge to advance in their journey — are in the positions that they are in. The game's coming-of-age quest is that much more compelling when everything is fleshed out.

    These elements are definitely reflective of the ways the "Pokemon" games have evolved, and I think speaks to why some of us keep coming back for more. (That is, in addition to the fun of catching and watching your Pokemon evolve.)

    I also want to point out how the different reasons we picked different starter Pokemon shows how varied the experience can be. What you saw as overly confident in Scorbunny, I just took as excitable athlete. I picked the energetic bunny (who has since evolved into something like a soccer champion) partly because he was cute, and also because past "Pokemon" has taught me that there are generally more water-type Pokemon (like Sobble) in the game than fire-types (like Scorbunny), so it made a bit more strategic sense.

    But that prior knowledge is not at all crucial to enjoy the game.

    Pokemon Sword/Shield (Nintendo/Common Sense Media/TNS)

    MARTENS: One of the primary appeals of games is that they can become unique stories to those who play them, regardless of the game's plot, largely because they can be open-ended enough to allow for individual exploration. I like the way you've latched onto some of the game's cultural explorations. In my early hours, I was taken with its sense of eternal playfulness, how the unknown — and growing up — is viewed with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. I'm thinking of when one of the characters expresses shock that someone once left town and came back in "real estate," as if they had forsaken the magic of "Pokemon."

    I had read a little about how the game includes nods to climate change — I was struck by reports in numerous other outlets that noted horrific changes to Corsola, a coral "Pokemon" — but I don't think "Pokemon" is out to make a statement. While one could draw conclusions from the coal mines and adult businesses, I found the reason I wanted to spend time in this world was because it embraces players with a hug. There are real-world realities here and there, and therefore I wouldn't say this is a a child's game but a game that captures the point of view of the young, hopeful at heart.

    I was reminded of a comment from Masuda when I asked him to reflect on how now multiple generations have fallen for "Pokemon," and he more or less said it's because "Pokemon" doesn't try to age with its players. Masuda talked about his love of shoot-em-up arcade games of yore and how their increased complexity and difficulty meant they were only speaking to the same people year in and out. He didn't want to take the game "in a direction that's not approachable," he said.

    "I think a lot hardcore fans maybe want us to pursue a more realistic, heavier, hardcore, dark portrayal," he said. "I of course listen to their feedback but I try to go in the direction that we lay out for ourselves. One example I go back to: I was always a big fan of the shoot-em-up genre. But that genre would keep going in a more hardcore, hardcore, hardcore direction until they got to a point that where only a few people could enjoy it."

    My biggest fear before starting the "Pokemon" game was there would be two decades of lore and myths and a language that I just wouldn't understand, like someone watching "Avengers: Infinity War" without having seen other Marvel films. I was pleased that "Pokemon" essentially laid out the welcome mat.

    Wednesday, December 4, 2019

    Apple Announced Its Picks for Best Apps of 2019

    a screen shot of a video game © Apple

    Apple released its picks for the best apps and games of 2019 at an event in New York City on Monday.

    It also identified what it deemed were the most important trends that drove app development in the past year — namely reimagined franchises (like Pokémon Masters and Minecraft Earth) and apps that allow for easy content creation (like Anchor and Wattpad).

    "We are excited to announce such a diverse group of 2019 App Store winners, showing that great design and creativity comes from developers large and small, and from every corner of the world," said Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. Here are Apple's picks for best apps and games of 2019 — at least on Apple devices.

       Mac App of the Year

    Affinity Publisher by Serif Labs

    Making books, magazines or other layout-heavy projects requires serious publishing software, but often comes at a high cost. Affinity Publisher's affordable price and integration with other Serif Labs apps (like Affinity Photo and Affinity Designer) means you can take advantage of multiple features without ruining your workflow, switching apps or breaking the bank.

       Mac Game of the Year

    Gris by Devolver & Nomada Studio

    Gris is a visually arresting platformer-puzzle game about a woman exploring the world after losing her voice. It's short — you can finish the game in a few hours — but once you're done, you'll be glad you experienced developer Nomada Studio's artistic endeavor, one that will tug at your heartstrings and amaze you with its wordless storytelling.

       iPad App of the Year

    Flow by Moleskine

    Moleskine's Flow is a drawing and sketching app, one that attempts to simplify the drawing experience by doing away with the traditional "sketchbook" idea found in other drawing apps. Instead, Flow's sketchbook is a timeline, letting you swipe for more space or scrub through your drawing history like you would a YouTube video. Combined with a new approach to creating brushes and editing layers, Flow is a great addition to your catalog of artistic apps.

       iPad Game of the Year

    Hyper Light Drifter by Abylight & Heart Machine

    Though originally released in 2016, lauded indie game Hyper Light Drifter came to the iPad this past summer. With beautifully-done retro visuals, fast-paced action sequences and notoriously difficult gameplay, the game provides a rewarding experience for those willing to stick it out and endure more than a few losses on their quest to understand what happened to their now-apocalyptic world.

       Apple TV Game of the Year

    Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap by DotEmu

    Once an '80s classic, the reboot of the platformer-adventure game Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap features gorgeous hand-drawn animations and beautiful 2D environments to explore. If you're feeling nostalgic, you can even switch between a more 8-bit style reminiscent of the original and its more modern look.

       Apple TV App of the Year

    The Explorers by The Explorers Network

    The Explorers is an exploration-based social network, where people share images and video of the natural world's splendor for you to view on your iOS device or Apple TV. The Explorers supports recordings up to 8K, lets you explore by location, and makes it easy to create lists of favorite images and videos.

      Apple © Apple Apple   iPhone Game of the Year

    Sky: Children of the Light by thatgamecompany

    Puzzle game Sky: Children of the Light channels developer thatgamecompany's artistic expertise, that it flexed in games like Flower and Journey, to create a beautiful and vibrant world shared by you and other players in this always-online game. Prepare to go on a quest to send fallen spirits back to heaven while collaborating with friends to solve puzzles and collect prizes.

       iPhone App of the Year

    Spectre Camera by Lux Optics

    Spectre Camera makes long-exposure photos easier, even without a tripod, thanks to some handy AI software. Its scene detection can automatically adjust to capture light trails at night, and computer vision software helps with image stabilization, so your jittery hand doesn't ruin your photos.

    Apple Arcade Game of the Year

    Sayonara Wild Hearts by Annapurna Interactive & Simogo

    Available on Apple Arcade, Sayonara Wild Hearts is a music-fueled adventure game with speeding motorcycles, clashing blades and cool outfits. Its on-rails gameplay is dead simple — collect hearts, time button presses and avoid obstacles — but always exciting, and looks fantastic.

    Tuesday, December 3, 2019

    What Pokémon Sword and Shield tells us about modern Britain

    Pokémon

    What if we told you that there exists a Britain not tormented by the prospect of a general election? A Britain where the sun shines perennially over smiling folk ensconced in chocolate box villages, folk not pathologically obsessed with immigration? A Britain where the young don’t despise the old, because the old aren’t insistent on reducing the planet to ash? A green and pleasant land and workshop of the world unified under a single, golden imperative â€" gotta catch 'em all!

    Last week Nintendo released its eighth generation of Pokémon games, the typically symmetrically titled Sword and Shield. For those who haven’t become a Pokémon Master since the halcyon days of Red and Blue â€" perhaps put off by rumors of ugly new creatures resembling ice creams and shoes â€" this release demands your attention for at least two reasons. The first: Pokémon is finally, actually 3D. Such news is a joy, particularly for those of us spinning in the abyss of our obscure little desk jobs, secretly dreaming of the wide open road and roughhousing with their trusty boy Squirtle. Until they plug us into the Pokémon matrix, this is the closest we will come, friends.

    The second reason to get worked up about this latest iteration is that it’s set in the UK, or at least a land inspired by it. Intrigued by the elements a Japanese toy conglomerate might pinpoint as key to our national character, I set off to Galar, dreaming of lands strong and stable, and actively blocking out background noise from real life â€" even the Pokémon world is currently racked by its own “Dexit” crisis.

    Like all Pokémon games, you are asked to name your protagonist, and like all Pokémon games, you are required to name them foolishly (although within a strict character limit). So it’s with extreme excitement that David Camero sets out on his quest across pseudo-Britain. (I now comprehensively regret this name.)

    At the game’s outset, Camero hulks on the couch, glued to his smartphone, no doubt checking the latest YouGov polls. It’s at this point that I get an unwelcome reminder that the music in the Pokémon series is interminable. I recommend lowering this and replacing it with the smooth hits of a British national treasure â€" Craig David, I choose you!

    I check around for trappings of Britishness. There’s a cup of tea on the table; a puzzling selection of abstract and landscape art crowd the walls. I’m dressed in traditional British uniform â€" curling polo, ripped skinny jeans and blocky little clogs. I look ready to douse myself with Lynx Africa and hop on the next train to Reading festival.

    My “mum” â€" notably, not mom â€" corners me on my way out, adorned in flowery wellies. She wishes me well but, in a concern familiar to most British mothers, warns me not to enter the forest. I breeze past her, intent, in the words of prominent Brexiteer Dan Hannan (and many others), of stepping off the doorstep, out into the sunshine, and into the summer meadows beyond. Mum is cool with me hitting the old dusty trail, later handing me a few quid and shooing me out the door, no doubt concocting plans to rent out my room.

    The world of Galar is a thing of pastoral beauty, an idyll of green fields, serene windmills and happy sheep (Pokémon). The National Trust would be proud. We reside in Postwick town, over the rolling hills lies Wedgehurst. Later, you visit a bounty of delightfully named cities, like Circhester and Spikemuth and Wyndon. (The latter known for the popular aphorism, attributed to the creator of the first Pokedex, “when a man is tired of Wyndon; he is tired of life.”)

    Unfortunately, I’m halted in my quest by my “friend” Hop, a real loudmouth know-it-all who sports a gaudy shearling jacket and lives in palatial Victorian palace that leers over the town. It’s here I get a first taste of Nintendo’s attempt at British slang, which takes the form of Hop’s bullying. "No wandering into the tall grass if you've got no Pokémon of your own, mate” he chides me; notice the mean placement of that comma. “You’re pants with directions,” he says later, triggering years of embarrassment about my dyspraxia. I long for the ability to thwack him on the nose, and for him to go away and let me get on with solving more pressing questions (Like why does Mum wear her wellies in the house, when the sky outside gleams blazing blue?).

    After I’m gifted my first Pokémon by the league champion, Hop’s brother who repeatedly pulls the Freddie Mercury pose, I head over to the Pokémon centre. I notice a thriving business next door that sells only freshly picked berries, and I reflect on how local businesses have been desecrated by global capital. The Pokémon centre turns out to contain a pub; as a pre-teen boy, I figure I’m just about the right age to flash my fake ID and order a couple of WKD Blues, but this isn’t an option.

    As the game progresses, the references to home pile up. The Pokémon, it turns out, are Britain-inspired too. There’s Rookidee, the owl that sounds like an Edward Lear limerick. There’s Nickit, the fox that “survives off its ill-gotten gains.” There’s Inteleon, the final evolution of one of three starter Pokémon, who bears a clear resemblance to Jacob Rees-Mogg, but, being a Pokémon, cannot speak.

    Galar, it turns out, is a lovely place, just as I expected it to be. There are speeding trains, but no Virgin rail. There are summer meadows, but no Dan Hannan. Like the Wind and the Willows, Peppa Pig or Paddington 2 it is really nothing like Britain. It's a real sunlit uplands â€" a Britain that never existed, and never will.

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