It’s interesting that you note the difference between Halloween & the Harvest events as I agree in theory. From a personal POV, Halloween is usually one of my favourite events of the year - for me, inanimate objects that are ghosts = peak design (see Litwick, Drifloon, Yamask etc). But this year I didn’t really play it, I am currently not really feeling the game in general. At this point it feels like I’m basically just playing a friend simulator as sending/opening gifts is the only thing I’m doing regularly!
I heard there’s a buzz around the new Pokémon TCG app, I haven’t tried it yet. I had a few cards when I was younger but never anything serious, I can’t remember if you ever collected the cards? I wonder how that will affect GO player numbers.
I am sorry about the US Election result, I really hope the damage this administration does is mitigated somehow & lessons are learnt for next time.
Finally, on a positive note - congratulations on your showcase effort! That PhD Pikachu will soon be yours! :D
It's a bit disheartening to hear that, even with all the changes of a new meta, you're back to not feeling the game. I think without more creative scheduling and certainly without addressing the performance issues, though, this is the probable result. One tweak that does seem to be an improvement is the faster switch timer. I'm hoping that sticks or even gets whittled down to 45 seconds. But, yeah, my own interaction with the game and related media is suffering. Events like the Harvest Festival don't help. Just get me to that PhD Pikachu pose! 😆
Re TCG, I imagine it will be more of a diversion than a replacement. I remember when Pokémon UNITE first dropped, some people were predicting its arrival as a death sentence for PoGO. That obviously didn't happen. I played UNITE for a bit, but after umpteen bot games/matches with unreliable teammates, my enthusiasm took a nosedive. The game's emphasis on microtransactions also made for a less enjoyable experience. I've never played TCG, but it could be fun. My fear is that it's another time sink, and I'm a little wary of that aspect. 😅
As for the election, I appreciate the well wishes. In the immediate aftermath, the deflections and blame coming from liberals suggest no lessons were learned or will be, and I don't know how we get around that, if at all. The growing sentiment on the left is that, without power to challenge the duopoly, our efforts are best served organizing and trying to make a difference on a local level. We have no viable progressive party right now. Fighting both a moneyed right-wing media apparatus and the Democratic Party feels like a waste of time and effort, at this point.
Completely agree, the switch timer reduction was the best change they made this season, made for much more dynamic play! I actually enjoyed the new OGL meta, but then had two weeks of metas that I didn’t want to play and subsequently haven’t had any desire to go back (bar completing the free GBD research).
There’s other factors, too. I think Dynamax/Gigantamax is taking a toll on me, which I didn’t expect - despite the discussion earlier in the season. For example, I was absolutely delighted when I got a lucky 4* Drilbur earlier this year. But it’s soon to not be worth as much because the Dynamax version is coming out? And I am aware Gigantamax isn’t for players like me - there’s only so many times you can be told you have to play the game a certain way before you decide the game isn’t for you.
I never played UNITE, but I can see the comparison & I think you’ve probably given a fair assessment. I also understand wanting to avoid a(nother) time sink game!
Hmm, that doesn’t sound positive. If I can offer some consolation - I know things may seem bleak right now, but I am sure that over time there will be a reaction & the general population will adjust their politics. Hopefully this administration won’t do too much damage in the meantime.
I always forget something I was going to say! Re: Lures. I find Lures incredibly dull. I have a load in my storage because I barely use them unless forced to for an evolution.
The spawns are slow to appear, I don’t ever really want to be sat somewhere outside for an extended period of time. I’ll use them if I’m bored & sat in a hotel somewhere, that’s about it.
I'm curious how many new(ish) people are opting into the game in 2024. I get bummed that I can rarely encounter any Pokes I still need candies for to evolve, but then I'm like, "well I guess people who just started playing have a lot of catching up to do, so, go ahead and catch those Pidgeys."
I've expressed this before but as someone who doesn't really battle, I think I've pretty much maxed out what I can do, and I'm just playing out of habit, but I also don't spend any money so my experience matters little. But if people who do battle can't find any usefulness - you're right - it's just a matter of time before everyone but the Wailmers stop playing.
I guess nothing can be around forever, right? Maybe Minecraft? I would be interested in reading that article - what would cause the end of Pokemon Go?
My friend Ryan, who you might see occasionally in the comments, suggested a post a while back examining why people still play. That was before he quit, LOL. But yeah, if you're not battling or being the consummate collector, it's hard to be excited without a more diverse pool of spawns. In theory, I don't hate Oddish. After hundreds if not thousands of encounters, however, my antipathy grows.
I honestly don't know what would kill Pokémon GO other than systemic failure at Niantic. It's more probable that we fold before it does, as undeserved as that is. It's a worthy thought exercise, at the very least.
Nice comparison between 2 events in which the powers that be provided only lukewarm effort!
Thanks, Mom! I wish one of those two things weren't, you know, as consequential as the freaking presidency, but here we are.
It’s interesting that you note the difference between Halloween & the Harvest events as I agree in theory. From a personal POV, Halloween is usually one of my favourite events of the year - for me, inanimate objects that are ghosts = peak design (see Litwick, Drifloon, Yamask etc). But this year I didn’t really play it, I am currently not really feeling the game in general. At this point it feels like I’m basically just playing a friend simulator as sending/opening gifts is the only thing I’m doing regularly!
I heard there’s a buzz around the new Pokémon TCG app, I haven’t tried it yet. I had a few cards when I was younger but never anything serious, I can’t remember if you ever collected the cards? I wonder how that will affect GO player numbers.
I am sorry about the US Election result, I really hope the damage this administration does is mitigated somehow & lessons are learnt for next time.
Finally, on a positive note - congratulations on your showcase effort! That PhD Pikachu will soon be yours! :D
It's a bit disheartening to hear that, even with all the changes of a new meta, you're back to not feeling the game. I think without more creative scheduling and certainly without addressing the performance issues, though, this is the probable result. One tweak that does seem to be an improvement is the faster switch timer. I'm hoping that sticks or even gets whittled down to 45 seconds. But, yeah, my own interaction with the game and related media is suffering. Events like the Harvest Festival don't help. Just get me to that PhD Pikachu pose! 😆
Re TCG, I imagine it will be more of a diversion than a replacement. I remember when Pokémon UNITE first dropped, some people were predicting its arrival as a death sentence for PoGO. That obviously didn't happen. I played UNITE for a bit, but after umpteen bot games/matches with unreliable teammates, my enthusiasm took a nosedive. The game's emphasis on microtransactions also made for a less enjoyable experience. I've never played TCG, but it could be fun. My fear is that it's another time sink, and I'm a little wary of that aspect. 😅
As for the election, I appreciate the well wishes. In the immediate aftermath, the deflections and blame coming from liberals suggest no lessons were learned or will be, and I don't know how we get around that, if at all. The growing sentiment on the left is that, without power to challenge the duopoly, our efforts are best served organizing and trying to make a difference on a local level. We have no viable progressive party right now. Fighting both a moneyed right-wing media apparatus and the Democratic Party feels like a waste of time and effort, at this point.
Completely agree, the switch timer reduction was the best change they made this season, made for much more dynamic play! I actually enjoyed the new OGL meta, but then had two weeks of metas that I didn’t want to play and subsequently haven’t had any desire to go back (bar completing the free GBD research).
There’s other factors, too. I think Dynamax/Gigantamax is taking a toll on me, which I didn’t expect - despite the discussion earlier in the season. For example, I was absolutely delighted when I got a lucky 4* Drilbur earlier this year. But it’s soon to not be worth as much because the Dynamax version is coming out? And I am aware Gigantamax isn’t for players like me - there’s only so many times you can be told you have to play the game a certain way before you decide the game isn’t for you.
I never played UNITE, but I can see the comparison & I think you’ve probably given a fair assessment. I also understand wanting to avoid a(nother) time sink game!
Hmm, that doesn’t sound positive. If I can offer some consolation - I know things may seem bleak right now, but I am sure that over time there will be a reaction & the general population will adjust their politics. Hopefully this administration won’t do too much damage in the meantime.
I always forget something I was going to say! Re: Lures. I find Lures incredibly dull. I have a load in my storage because I barely use them unless forced to for an evolution.
The spawns are slow to appear, I don’t ever really want to be sat somewhere outside for an extended period of time. I’ll use them if I’m bored & sat in a hotel somewhere, that’s about it.
I'm curious how many new(ish) people are opting into the game in 2024. I get bummed that I can rarely encounter any Pokes I still need candies for to evolve, but then I'm like, "well I guess people who just started playing have a lot of catching up to do, so, go ahead and catch those Pidgeys."
I've expressed this before but as someone who doesn't really battle, I think I've pretty much maxed out what I can do, and I'm just playing out of habit, but I also don't spend any money so my experience matters little. But if people who do battle can't find any usefulness - you're right - it's just a matter of time before everyone but the Wailmers stop playing.
I guess nothing can be around forever, right? Maybe Minecraft? I would be interested in reading that article - what would cause the end of Pokemon Go?
My friend Ryan, who you might see occasionally in the comments, suggested a post a while back examining why people still play. That was before he quit, LOL. But yeah, if you're not battling or being the consummate collector, it's hard to be excited without a more diverse pool of spawns. In theory, I don't hate Oddish. After hundreds if not thousands of encounters, however, my antipathy grows.
I honestly don't know what would kill Pokémon GO other than systemic failure at Niantic. It's more probable that we fold before it does, as undeserved as that is. It's a worthy thought exercise, at the very least.