Pokéfest - Week 9

Day 69


A long time has passed since the last Pokéfest blog and this is primarily due to the drying up of any real news; however, today we can officially say that in one week the Pokéfest 2012 will be upon us...

5 men, 2 months, 1 goal - to be crowned Pokéboss 2012.

Since the last post it would seem that a level of contentment has come over all the trainers who have already completed the game. Almost an air of complacency in fact. Jim, Ben and Spanish Dave all attest that they have put in minimal time to the game over the last 3 weeks. Ben is quoted as stating a mere 2 hours of play. All three however are far from forthcoming with details of the training, Pokémon in their team or the levels their monsters are currently at.

It is interesting. I considered recently that the Pokéfest may have been too long at a near 2 months but I quite like that it has been an epic rather than a quick race. It feels more true to a real Pokémon trainers life - as you know you can't stop at the Elite 4, you have to keep training hard, pushing it every single day as you never know, you can never be certain, that Gary Oak isn't going to jump you when you walk around the next corner....

Ok, perhaps I've immersed too deep into Pokémon but then, I'm still playing. I am now up to 6 badges with the 7th imminent. Mr Pickles has been on the steroids and is no average Kadabra - the sleeping Snorlax on Route 12 was just the latest unsuspecting victim of his 'roid rage - and is ready to take on the world. I just need to get some of my other boys up to scratch but there can be no doubt that I will bring them into peak form at the right moment. I can do no more.

The news regarding Richard is interesting in that he has 4 badges, the same as he has had for some while now, but, he claims his team are levelled in the 50's. I'm still not writing him off. He came in with the nickname Pokéboss, he could still leave with it as his official title. All correspondence addressed to Richard (B.A. hons, Pokéboss) if you will.

Just one week left. I for one cannot wait to see what happens. Of course, all will be posted here!

Keep your Snorlax safe! Keep it Kanto! Keep it OMG!

"I'd better split before I catch loser-itis!" - Gary Oak 1998

Pokéfest - Week 5

Day 34


Just one month and one day until the big match day!

5 weeks down and we're officially a little over half way through the Pokéfest and the competition at the top is now really on as we have 3 players who have collected all 8 badges and shown the Elite 4 the real meaning of the word trainer. This could be terrible news for my own chances but there is some good news as we shall see...

Ben as we knew last week was at the level grinding stage having beaten the Elite 4 first. The news from Ben this week is that he has shockingly not played at all. Level grinding is tough work and so he is taking a break. I don't expect this to last too long but I consider it an opening.

Jim was second to beat the Elite 4 and he too has now declared a break from the game. Jim, in fairness, has spent 120 hours, more time than anyone (possibly ever), playing the game and so has a very balanced team in level terms. He has avoided the unplanned level jumping which is so easy to fall into when you allow one Pokémon too frequent a use. One strange piece of news that came from Jim this week was that he let slip that he has levelled up the Mewtwo (M2) he has caught; he couldn't explain why knowing that he cannot use this on the Championship day but he seems to like it.

Dave was third to complete the Elite 4 and after taking some time to return to the early parts of the game to pick up a Pokémon he missed first time around he too has now declared his intention to take a break.

3 players grinding to a halt upon completion of the story? Interesting news in itself but you'd better make that 4 players.

The Pokéboss is struggling. He has now taken 2 weeks off.

Worrying times for everyone but me then. Now is clearly my chance... the tortoise beats the Hare.

For myself, I have picked up another badge with a couple of simple one hit kills. I am now on 4 badges. I am particularly buoyed by the manner of my 4th badge win as my Pokémon are clearly ahead of the level/difficulty curve. There is a long way to go but my team may be finding a groove.

Next stop for me is the Pokémon Tower and I ain't afraid of no ghost as they say! Unfortunately Mr Pickles, my trusty Kadabra, is terrified of them so someone is going to have to step up and fill his psychic, spoon bending shoes. It should be fine. It's always fine.

Incidentally I used to live in a haunted house with Ben. True fact.

And that is it for the now. More news soon.

Keep it M2! Keep it OMG!

Mr Pickles used Teleport, Mr Pickles teleported out of battle...