#their parents came out with Pokémon for the gameboy color and played it with my sibling in the yard

[oberon-king-of-the-cherries]

A neighbor kid has been coming over a lot the past year to look at my fish tank and see what weird cuttings I’ve put in it for scientific shits and giggles. Recently I visited with them at their place and they treated me to an extended tour of all the kitchen scraps they’d started sticking in jars, also just to see what would happen. They were particularly excited about two thriving, bushy sweet potatoes. Their exuberance humorously juxtapose their beleaguered family who had clearly, just at that moment, realized where this sudden interest in garabage aquaponics had grown from and were looking at me like

[smeargleangelo]

I hope I'm not alone in this, but I feel as though I have difficulty approaching Pokémon as so many others do

I was very young when Pokémon came out, younger than the target demographic. My older brother wasn't, so naturally he took to Pokémon like a magikarp takes to water. I was too young to play any of the videogames and we didn't have Red or Blue or Yellow anyways. I remember the anime coming out and loving it. My brother and I were all in! We had the original red "Official Pokémon Handbook" and later the better-remembered green deluxe edition. Remember the Burger King promotion? My poor parents sure do! We had toys and t-shirts and pencil toppers. We couldn't get enough

We got Pokémon Pinball for the Gameboy Color shortly before Gold and Silver were released. I remember watching over my brother's shoulder as he played Silver for the first time. A kid from the neighborhood had a Nintendo 64 and Pokémon Snap. It was such a treat to watch him play!

After my brother lost interest and moved on to Harry Potter, I tried playing his copy of Silver. I really didn't understand the game as it was far more turn-based than the free form battles of the anime. You couldn't see the Pokémon running around in the wild like you could in the anime. It just wasn't the same. While I played it (and beat Whitney's dreaded Miltank with only a few tries), it wasn't what Pokémon meant to me, so I eventually threw the cartridge in a drawer and just watched the anime

I bring all of this up to say that when it comes to Pokémon, I'm very much approaching the franchise from the anime, not the games. As a result I find it hard to enjoy Pokétuber content, since so much of it is tied up in the game as a game. I don't care about the odds of catching a shiny variant, or egg groups, or IVs, or any of that mess. The grinding aspect of the game, continually battling wild Pokémon until they faint or catching them to stuff them in a box, just feels inhuman and wrong. Folks discuss the little critters more like tools than like pets, and it saddens me

I've played other Pokémon games. I got most of the way through Diamond and a little ways into Shield. Once I got access to Galar's wild area, I've effectively stopped progressing in the game. I can finally run around in the wild with Pokémon. I got what I came for

The most fun I've had recently is with New Pokémon Snap! I can see the Pokémon running around in their environment and I can interact with them as living critters, not as tools to win a game. The whole idea of the game is to vibe with them

But that's weird right? Ultimately Pokémon is a JRPG. The anime was just an abstraction of the game mechanics for entertainment and advertisement purposes

I would be content with more Pokémon Snap games or just a big Pokémon sand box that didn't force you to battle your critters unless you really wanted to, but that's not what Pokémon is

Someone please tell me I'm not alone in this? Surely there are more folks in this world that love Pokémon, but aren't necessarily tied to the core Pokémon games?

Anyways, just a thought..

- Smeargleangelo

[paladinarctic]

It was a holiday. Nah. Maybe a birthday. Doesn't matter now. But my parents gave me Pokémon Crystal and a Gameboy Color. It was Lime Green and the coolest thing.

The intro was spooky. Letter shaped monsters with eyes on them flashing into view and disappearing as quickly as they came. A shadow dashing in the forest leaping out to reveal a beautiful and fierce blue canine monster.

We all know by now, it was Suicune. They were Unown. But I was a bit frightened as an eight year old.

----------

"Will you take care of one of these Pokémon?' Professor Elm asked me. Maybe that wasn't his exact wording. But I didn't care.

One look at that goofy grinning blue crocodile thing and I was smitten. "This one. Him."

"Are you sure you want the Water type Totodile?" He asked. He didn't need to. I was already giggling and hurrying to go out and play with him.

"Yes. Totodile. I'll call you.... Lakmir." We were gonna be the best of friends. I needed him pretty bad as a kid. It only got worse as I grew up. Relied a lot on my pals.

To a degree, I still do.

[advrik]

What the Nintendo Switch Means to Me

As I sit here in my kitchen in order to keep a close eye on the ground beef and sausage as it browns in preparation for dinner (it's spaghetti night), I have been working it out in my head how and why my gaming habits have changed over the years and how I ended up championing the Nintendo Switch and nothing else.

And then it hit me.

But before that, I would like to delve just a little bit into my gaming past that, at least in my head, makes sense why I am the way I am today.

It started in 1994. My grandmother got me the OG Gameboy+Zelda: Links Awakening bundle for Christmas. Pretty awesome, right? Finally game console that I could call my own. But it didn't end there, for Christmas Eve night my older brother passed on his three year old SNES to me as he was moving out in the new year and wanted it to remain safe. I was ecstatic. Here I was, seven years old and suddenly in possession of a Gameboy AND a SNES. A handheld and console, two separate entities that played two different types of games.

Now leading up to Christmas that year, I was regularly using my brothers (former) SNES and has asked Santa for the Super Gameboy for Christmas, so I could play some of my brothers old Gameboy games that has been lying around the house. I got one and still own it to this very day, but it was reviecing the Gameboy as well that likely lit the flames for what would become my modern day gaming preferences.

Being able to play Links Awakening both on the TV in my bedroom and in the big comfy recliner in the living room was amazing, and while it didn't tickle me as anything more than just playing a video game at the time, in hindsight it was where it all began.

Time went on and the Gameboy Color happened, and while I did enioy the majority of Pokémon Red on my SNES and on the go with the red Gameboy Pocket, I lost out on playing gen 2 of Pokémon and many, many Gameboy Color exclusive titles, including two Harvest Moons, on account of just not being able to get a GBC.

Fast forward to the Summer of 2003. I am in possession of a Gameboy Advance after having received one from my parents for Christmas in 2001, which was just like having a SNES in my hands. It was incredible, but I longed to be able to play the likes of Mega Man Battle Network and the Breath of Fire 2 port on my TV.

Enter the Gameboy Player for the Gamecube.

This thing was a godsend. It played everything! Gameboy, Gameboy Color, Gameboy Advance, you name it. It existing had, albeit satiateing it for the time, form the need for a hybrid console. One that didn't require two components, but was a single piece of hardware that easily hooked up to the television without additional peripherals and consoles.

The Gameboy Player served its purpose perfectly and had seen much use, particularly in those times when I was wanting to watch something on TV or had gone on trips, but didn't want to miss any time spent on my farm in Harvest Moon Friends of Mineral Town.

I have for much of my life been a console gamer. I preferred the console experience over the smaller handheld experiences on account of how scaled back they tended to be in scope and gameplay. But as I aged, and I can pinpoint exactly when this transition started, my preferences in how I played began to change. Namely with the advent of the 3DS which gave console-like experiences in compact form and my getting a job in early 2014. I was finding myself increasingly agitated with the PS3 and Wii U games that I played, leaving many unfinished because I was feeling like I was wasting my time doing just this one thing and nothing else. My time had become limited due to work, and I was falling behind on movies and seasons of TV shows. 

The pick up and play nature of handhelds jived with what I was becoming. I could be watching a movie and put the 3DS down halfway through, then pick it up again towards the end. Not for any particular reason, but just because I could. I didn’t get this ability with home consoles, and it annoyed me more and more as time went on.

Things really hit a low point after I got my PS4 in 2015. I was buying games left and right because, I’ll be honest, it had a lot to offer and catered to my interests. But you know what? I wasn’t finishing anything. At one point I had around 30 games for it, with only a fraction of them having been completed. It was crazy agitating. I couldn’t focus on anything, partly because I was constantly thinking about what I could be doing instead of trying to finish this game. My anxiety was getting worse, not just because of my gaming habits mind you, but they contributed. Here I had this huge stack of games that were unfinished with no desire to play them because I couldn’t focus.

There was a point in 2016 where I went a solid 6 months without playing anything on my brand new PS4, instead choosing to focus on reading outside. I felt enlightened. All the while, I had my New 3DS XL and Animal Crossing New Leaf on me, which I would pick up and play here and there between chapters. It was magical and really made me wonder what my gaming future looked like if designated consoles were on the way out for me. Was I going to give up on gaming entirely? It definitely felt like it.

Enter Nintendo once again.

Being utterly disappointed with the Wii U and feeling like the 3DS had reached its peak. I was unsure of where they were going next, but the rumors of a console that was either to have both a handheld and a console version or design that was hybrid in nature sounded very promising, but with the support Nintendo had lost during the Wii U era, what exactly could I expect on such a device.

October 2016 saw the reveal of the Nintendo Switch; A hybrid handheld home console that could be played at home on the TV or on the go on a big, beautiful 720p screen. It was everything I could have hoped for all these years. A culmination of not only their stellar console exploits, but also their handheld department which had given the world the most therapeutic game in the world. 

Was I finally going to get the console experiences that I craved in a handheld form factor?

I can definitely say yes. Yes. Yes. A million times yes!!

The big reveal event in January 2017 spilled all details, setting the stage for a March 3rd 2017 release. I was ecstatic! I stayed up until 3am to nab a pre-order on Amazon, then headed out to Gamestop the following morning after only 3 hours of sleep to wait in line for the doors to open so that I could be first in line to get a backup pre-order in the event that something happened to my Amazon order.

The wait for the release was agonizing, but when the day finally came and I took off that weekend from work, it was amazing. Spending time with Breath of the Wild and Super Bomberman R are some of my favorite recent gaming memories. 

The concerns over what kind of support it might see didn’t last long, as third party devs saw the success and positive word of mouth revolving around Nintendo’s hybrid machine and started spitting out releases and announcements left and right. I knew I was putting all my eggs in one basket, but I just knew that I was making the right decision. I could feel it, this was going to be big.

I sold off the majority of my PS4 games, and gave the console and the few Resident Evil games that stayed behind to my sister. It was a tough decision in the end, but I don’t regret doing so at all now. Having to keep up two consoles would have just added to the stress and anxiety that just keeping my PS4 around was causing, so I did - as I always do, no matter how painful - what was best for myself, my mental state and my wallet and did away with the PS4.

Now more than two years later, 100+ Switch games finished and my collection growing what seems like weekly with games I never imagined I’d see on a Nintendo console or even re-released in this day and age. To put it lightly, the Switch and its form factor has been an absolute blessing and one I would not give up for anything in the world. Nintendo combining their handheld and home console ventures into one was brilliant idea and one I hope they don’t ever, EVER backtrack on.

In the time since this all unfolded, I’ve modded my dock so that I never have to remove my Switch from the Satisfye Pro Grip, meaning that there’s no extra steps between removing my Switch from the dock and slipping its grip on. It’s magical and has further increased my ability to just pick up and play, something I hadn’t seen since the days of the OG 3DS and its charging cradle.

So thank you Nintendo, and especially thanks to Satoru Iwata for brainstorming this beautiful device that the technical wizards of Nintendo saw through with and made a success, because without it, I can say most confidently that I would not be playing games today had it not happened.

[transslyblue]

Also "1-99"

(1) Do You Sleep With Your Closet Doors Open Or Closed?

Haha, closed. I don't like seeing the dark void that I call a closet

(2) Do You Have Freckles?

Yea, but you can't really see them unless you're close

(3) Can You Whistle?

Yes

(4) Last Song You Listened To.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame musical, the Tavern Song

(5) What Is Your Favourite Colour?

Blue, but I also like a variety of purples and greens

(6) Relationship Status.

Single and not looking

(7) What Is The Temperature Right Now?

69º F

(8) Did You Wake Up Cranky?

Yea, unless I wake up myself

(9) How Many Followers?

118, but I need to go through and block any bots. (;w;)

(10) Zodiac Sign.

Leo

(11) What Is Your Eye Colour?

Blue/green hazel. My eyes are multi-coloured so they have blue, green, and brown with a very grey look to them.

(12) Take A Vitamin Daily?

I forget daily

(13) Do You Sing In The Shower?

Yup!

(14) What Books Are You Reading?

I really want to get back to reading some more Lovecraft, but i don't have much time to read

(15) Grab The Book Nearest To You, Turn To Page 64, Give Me Line 14.

"Minutes before librarians ate him."

(16) Favourite Anime?

Uuuuhhhhhh, hm. I guess it'd have to be InuYasha, but I like a lot of anime

(17) Last Person You Cried In Front Of?

Err,,, it was a very close friend. Idk if they'd want me to say who they are tho

(18) Do You Collect Anything?

Rocks and those snowglobe musicboxes

(19) What Did You Have For Lunch?

Yogurt and a protein bar. Ik, ik real healthy and filling

(20) Do You Dance In The Car?

Depends on the song, but not really

(21) Favourite Animal?

Owls and cats

(22) Do You Watch The Olympics?

Not really, but when I do it's the diving Olympics

(23) What Time Do You Usually Go To Bed?

2am

(24) Are You Wearing Makeup Right Now?

I don't wear makeup. Though I have considered it

(25) Do You Prefer To Swim In A Pool Or The Ocean?

Either. Pool is safer though

(26) Favourite Tumblr Blog?

Oof, idk if I can pick just one, so imma name a few. @ohhimarx @mirosuikaaa @masochist-incarnate they're all really friendly and nice

(27) Bottled Water Or Tap Water?

Whichever is most convenient at the time

(28) What Makes You Happy?

The sound of rain, art, my friends talking to me, I have a list that I've posted, so I won't list out here

(29) Post A Gif Of What You’re Currently Feeling Right Now.

(30) Do You Study Better With Or Without Music?

Haha, I don't study;;;

(31) Dogs Or Cats?

Cats

(32) If You Were A Crayon What Colour Would You Be?

Blue-tiful lol, for real though probably bubble blue

(33) PlayStation Or Xbox.

Does Switch/ds count?

(34) Would You Swim In The Lake Or Ocean?

Idunknow

(35) Do You Believe In Magic?

Not really, but I won't bash on anyone who does

(36) What Colour Shirt Are You Wearing?

Black, but is a Link being a meme

(37) Can You Curl Your Tongue?

Yes

(38) Do You Save Money Or Spend It?

I save more then I spend.

(39) Is There Anything Pink Within 10 Feet Of You?

Yea, it's a pink pillow of Lion from Steven Universe and a music stand from when I was in middle school

(40) Do You Have Any Obsessions Right Now?

Kirby in general

(41) Have You Ever Caught A Butterfly?

Nope, but I have touched one before

(42) Are You Easily Influenced By Other People?

Yes and no. It really depends on how long I've been around them

(43) Do You Have Strange Dreams?

Omg yes! I remember a few and they were all lucid dreams! (I looked up the term from last time I answered this question)

(44) Do You Like Going On Airplanes?

Never been on one

(45) Name One Movie That Made You Cry.

Of Mice and Men

(46) Peanuts Or Sunflower Seeds?

Both

(47) If I Handed You A Concert Ticket Right Now, Who Would You Want The Performer To Be?

Panic!At the Disco, Fallout Boy, or The Neighborhood

(48) Are You A Picky Eater?

Not really. There are some foods I refuse to eat, but otherwise I eat pretty much anything

(49) Are You A Heavy Sleeper?

Yes

(50) Do You Fear Thunder / Lightning?

Nope! I actually like thunder

(51) Do You Like To Read / Write?

I enjoy reading. As for writing, eh. I'll write out my ideas but I'mno good at fleshing them out to be interesting

(52) Do You Like Your Music Loud?

Yes. But not too loud, just enough where I don't hear everyone around me

(53) Would You Rather Carve Pumpkins Or Wrap Presents?

Carve pumpkins! I really am bad at wrapping presents

(54) Put Your Music On Shuffle, What Is The First Song That Came Up?

Hurts - Illuminated

(55) What Season Are You In Right Now? (Weather)

Spring and dying from pollen

(56) What Are You Craving Right Now?

Idk, something salty tbh

(57) Post A Screenshot Of Your Tumblr Feed.

(58) What Is Your Gender?

I'm a transgender male, so i use he/him pronouns.

(59) Coffee Or Tea?

Both, but I like tea more

(60) Do You Have Any Homework Right Now? If So, What Is It About?

I'm not in school anymore soooo no

(61) What Is Your Sexuality?

Idk. Questioning I guess

(62) Do You Make Your Bed In The Morning?

No

(63) Favourite Pokemon?

I already answered this one, so I'll say a new pokemon that I love. Rowlet!

(64) Favourite Social Media?

Bruh I am not a fan, but Tumblrs the one I'm on most.

(65) What’s Your Opinion On Instagram Stories?

Idk. I don't have an Instagram

(66) Do You Get Homesick?

Yes

(67) Are You A Virgin?

Yes, and I plan to stay that way for awhile

(68) What Shampoo And Conditioner Are You Using Right Now?

I use Suave, but I also use TeaTree when I get really bad dandruff

(69) If You Were Far From Home And Needed To Sleep For The Night, Would You Choose To Rent A Crappy Motel Room For $60 Or Sleep In Your Car For Free?

Depends on the place. But most likely I'd risk the motel.

(70) Are Both Of Your Blood Parents Still In Your Life?

My mom yes, my biological father... It's complicated

(71)  Whats The Next Movie You Want To See In Theaters?

I don't really watch movies, so none

(72) Do You Miss Your Ex?

I don't have an ex

(73) What Is Your Favourite Quote Right Now?

Be the person you needed when you were younger. I have no clue who said it, but I live by that

(74)  What Eye Colour Do You Find Sexiest?

Eyes in general are great. Idk how anyone can not find something they like in any eye colour

(75) Did You Like Swinging As A Child? Do You Still Get Excited When You See A Swing Set?

YesYesYesYes

(76) What Was The Last Thing You Ate?

Nachos

(77) What Games Do You Have On Your Phone?

Voez and Pokémon Go

(78) Would You Give A Homeless Person CPR If They Were Dying? Why Or Why Not?

Yes, because no oen deserves to die. I'd do my best to help any homeless person

(79) Been On The Computer For 5 Hours Straight?

Haha, not today. Yet

(80) Stalked Someone On A Social Network?

Not really

(81) Do You Like Meeting New People?

Yes!

(82) Do You Wear Rings? If You Do, Take A Picture Of Them.

I don't wear jewlery much. But I would like to get my ears pierced properly

(83) Do You Sleep With Your Bedroom Door Open Or Closed?

Closed! I don't want people or my cat to walk in

(84) What Are Three Things You Did Today?

I woke up, did laundry, answered these questions

(85) What Do You Wear To Bed?

Pajama pants and a t-shirt

(86) List All Of Your Different Beauty Products You Have Right Now.

I've got none. Unless you want me to name what body wash i use. :/

(87) Are You A Day Or Night Person?

Night person

(88) List All Of Your Video Games On Your Phone, Console Etc.

Phone: Voez, Pokémon Go

Switch: Legend of Zeld: Breath of the wild, Super Smash Bros Ultimate, Kirby Star Allies, Mario Kart 8, PuyoPuyo Tetris, Bayonetta 1&2, Hyrule Warriors, Just Dance 2017, Super Mario Party, Let's Go Eevee, Mario Odyssey, Undertale, Shovel Knight, Pokémon quest, Mom Hid my Game, Deemo, Sonic Mania, Detention, The Coma, Cave Story

3DS: Kirby Clash Deluxe, Kirby Triple Deluxe, Kirby's Extra Epic Yarn, Kirby Planet Robobot, Kirby Canvas Curse, Kirby Mass Attack, Kirbg Super Star Ultra, Kirby Squeak Squad, Pokémon Y, Pokémon Platinum, Pokémon Ultra Moon, Pokémon Alpha Sapphire Pokémon Heartgold, Legend of Zelda Link Between Worlds, Legend of Zelda Majoras Mask, Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time 3D, Legend of Zelda Phantom Hourglass, Legend of Zelda Spirit Tracks, Super Smash Bros, Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon, Wario Ware Gold, Super Princess Peach, Animal Crossing New Leaf, Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow, Cooking Mama, Cooking Mama 2, Sonic Colors

Gameboy Color: Pokemon Blue, Legend of Zelda Link's Awakening

This is over the course of many years

(89) Tell Me About A Dream That You Had And When It Happened.

I had this dream where I was flying a red paper plane. It took forever to carry it up this tapestry, but i did it. When I finally took off this group of white paper planes were chasing me so I shook them off and landed, taking shelter in this museum. This museum held other people hiding and was actually an abandoned grocery store. Then I woke up.

I don't rememebr when this was, but I wrote it down. I have a few more if you're interested.

(90) Favourite Soda Drink?

Strawberry Ramuné

(91) What Sounds Are Your Favourite?

Rainstorms,

(92) Do You Wear Jeans Or Sweats More?

Jeans, since I can't wear sweatpants to work

(93) How Do You Look Right Now?

Uhhh, probably a slob since I've been in pajamas all day

(94) Name Something That Relaxes You.

Stuffed animals

(95) What Tattoo Do You Want?

Idk. Haven't really wanted one. Maybe a connect the dots one.

(96) Favourite YouTuber?

Idk. I watch Pyrocynical and Markiplier, but other than that I listen to music, watch speedpaints, and speed plays of various videogames

[recentanimenews]

FEATURE: Crunchyroll Staff Talk About Their Love For Pokémon

  Today is February 27th, which means that it's been twenty-five years since the release of Red & Green, the set of games that marked the debut of Pocket Monsters. Since then, the franchise has grown to almost unimaginable proportions and honestly, I can't really imagine my life without it. I remember receiving a purple Game Boy Color and Red Version as a gift, and being so caught up in excitement that I literally lost control of some of my bodily functions. I'm serious. I named my Charmander "Fzzzz." I can't explain why. "Fzzzz" is just what my helpless thumbs typed onto the little screen and then, for hundreds of hours, Fzzzz, my growing team of monster pals and I explored everything that Kanto had to offer. It was a great journey. By the way, I miss ya, Fzzzz, where ever you are. Sorry about Rock Tunnel.

    But anyway, to celebrate the occasion, I decided to ask some of the people that I work with about their first Pokémon memories:

  Justin Lasola - Social Media Manager, Games

  Pokémon’s been part of my life since 1998! Pokémon will always mean the world to me because it grew up with me be it learning how to read at 4 with Red, questioning all moral ambiguity at 16 with Black, or making the two hour commute to my first job bearable at 22 with GO. Here’s to someday making my future kids go to bed with Pokémon Sleep! (WHERE IS IT TPCI??)

    David-Christopher Harris - Sr. Manager, Editorial & News

  The MissingNo glitch in Pokémon Red placed in my 8-year-old hands a level of power no mortal should possess. A god unchecked, I carved my kingdom from a throne of unlimited rare candies, and with every irresponsible creation of yet another lv. 100 Dragonite I forged a piece of my soul. Thank you, Pokémon, for giving myself and every other child who grew up in extreme poverty a better world to evolve in.

  Cameron Trentalange - Manager, Social Video

  “Dad, what does this say?” a younger, more innocent version of me asked many generations ago every time I pulled up a menu in Pokémon Red. This game not only captured my imagination, but it made me determined to learn how to read so I could play on my own and fully experience this amazing world. As a result, I was amongst the students with the highest reading & writing comprehension in my grade and I credit that almost entirely to this franchise (that credibility may have faded as I am currently contemplating whether I should be using “among” or “amongst”.) From competing in Pokémon TCG tournaments as a kid with my mom, to syncing Pokéwalkers with classmates in high school, and sharing VGC strategies with my little brother every time I visit home, I cannot imagine my childhood, or adulthood, without Pokémon.

Joseph Luster - Editor, Crunchyroll News  

I have a distinct memory of visiting family in Utah shortly after the original games launched on Game Boy in the states. I was 17 (I know, I’m old) and my parents went out to eat with my aunt and uncle. I, however, being the brain genius that I am, convinced them to let me stay in that night and I pummelled my way through the Elite Four with ease. I was way overleveled. My game of choice was Pokémon Red. I had all the KFC beanie babies or whatever they were (still do!). I watched the cartoon every day. I cannot stress enough that I was about a year away from graduating high school at the time. I wouldn’t do so until I caught them all.  

Sergio Vaca - LATAM/Spain Editorial Lead

  When Pokémon arrived in Spain I swore to myself that I would not get carried away by that craze and I believed that I would not like it. And with Pokémon: Red Edition and Pokémon: Blue Edition I did it, I kept playing other things and I was able to stay out of it. But Pokémon was everywhere, and when Pokémon: Yellow Edition came around I couldn't resist, so I bought it and invested hundreds of hours in it (really, hundreds of hours). With Pokémon Gold and Silver, I consolidated my love for those games, which clearly connected with my existing fondness for RPGs. In 2021 I'm not the biggest Pokémon fan in the world, I don't play at a competitive level, but every new classic style game that is announced makes me excited. I won't become the best trainer, but I certainly learned to enjoy Pokémon over 20 years ago and still do.

  Mae Velasco - Associate Manager, Social Media

  Pokémon gave me the courage to believe in myself and my choices — and we all know choosing your first starter Pokémon is one of the biggest decisions we could ever make. (For me as a second-grader with a Game Boy Color Kiwi, it was Pokémon Red and my first loyal companion, Charmander.) The beautiful part is that with every choice, there was no wrong choice: We all were “masters” of our own destiny and each decision led to a wondrous adventure, and with lots of training, teamwork, and heart, we all could be the very best that no one ever was. (On the series, don’t even get me started on how the scene of Ash saving Pikachu from a flock of Spearow wrecked me, and taught me so much about loyal, sacrificial friendship — no matter the obstacle!)

  Jonathan Solis - Social Media Coordinator

  Pokemon Crystal. I remember it so fondly. My mom helped me put my name into the game because I was upset that there was a 7 character limit for names for that generation and “Jonathan” was just a tad bit long. But after that small upset, it was honestly the start of an amazing journey. Almost every new release ends up in my hands and I play it for hours on end. My favorite release was probably Heartgold and Soulsilver because of the Pokewalker. Running the mile in middle school with my Pokemon at my side? That was the future. More recently, I’ve gotten into playing the card game and even went to regionals with my friends (as a spectator but one day I’ll hit the tables as a competitor!) Pokemon has left such a huge impression in my life and I don’t expect that to change any time soon.

  Jacqui E. - Graphic Designer

  When the Pokemon anime first came out and got super popular with the US audience, like so many others, I felt like it was made for me. I loved watching Ash take care of his Pokemon like his own little family he got to travel and go on adventures with. I was SO excited when I found out that actually, it’s a video game, and you can play it and raise your own Pokemon and go on adventures with them too! I saved up my allowance to get myself a Gameboy Color and Pokemon Red and spent countless hours building my team and constantly feeling guilty that anyone had to be left in the computer box (Thank you to Sun/Moon for giving them their own island). One of the greatest things about Pokemon is that there’s no wrong way to be a trainer--there are so many different kinds. Some people like Pokemon Contests, some people like hanging out with their Pokemon in Pokemon Amie and similar modes, some people legitimately want to be the very best like no one ever was. There’s room for everybody, and all of those things are valid and important. Also, one time I paid for a Squirtle C-watch at my local Toys R Us almost entirely in pennies, and then I of course lost the watch.

  What is your first Pokémon memory? Let me know in the comments!

  ______________________________________________

  Daniel Dockery is a Senior Staff Writer for Crunchyroll. Follow him on Twitter!

  Do you love writing? Do you love anime? If you have an idea for a features story, pitch it to Crunchyroll Features!

By: Daniel Dockery