DLC procrastination, averted for Jirachi

(tags Pokemon, DLC, Dual Screen)

Even at 9 PM at night, it was refreshing to sit in the outdoor patio at the local McDonalds. Though outside, I downloaded the free Jirachi Pokemon. (よぞらのジラーチ プレゼント).

The Pokemon Pearl cartridge was my second Pokemon soft. I tried my Pokemon Platinum and failed to download. I did pick up one more Pokemon soft, this time the Pokemon Diamond, but unfortunately there was no save data. So, let's start it up:

"Piyokun da ne?" Yes.

I'm currently try to progress enough to the point where I can download my second Jirachi. Luckily I have two DS consoles so I can move my higher level Pokemon over. But I can't control the high level ones because I have no badges. This is going to be slow.

It's not enough just to be in the right spot: Pokemon DLC Jirachi

(tags food, Pokemon, DLC, Dual Screen, failure)

Actually I'm not playing Pokemon Platinum ever since I got Sudoku DS "The Final Version We Really Mean It This Time by Hudson". But I read at the Pokemon fan blog "ピカのお気楽ポケモン日記" had details on the free DLC available from McDonald's, of all places.

マックでDS Nintendo Zone （ニンテンドーゾーン）で「ジラーチ」を受け取る方法

You can download "Jirachi", which is a rare Pokemon that you can only get through connection to the old Pokemon Advance games.

On my way home from work I gave it a try at two seperate locations. The free pamphlet had the instructions, even explaining how to unlock the "Mystery Gift" menu entry. The first location didn't seem to have its "Nintendo Zone" turned on. The second place was really flaky, dropping my connection at times. Plus, as I figured out from actually reading the fine print, the DLC download requires Japanese versions of the DS software. Looks like I'm going to pick up another Pokemon DS game pretty soon.

At least before 7/17. Heh.

Pokemon: the first 60 hours

(tags Pokemon, Pikachu, Dual Screen)

Well my tryst with Ikaruga ended. Haha.

I got my Pikachu. I named the female Pikachu as Pika, and though she's become my tank and highest level soldier, she's pretty weak at defense. I can't assign most Hidden Moves to her either, which means I have to keep the ugly Bibarel for moving around the map. I do find the Pikachu's warm up before battling to be oh so cute. She waves towards the trainer, too bad she doesn't say "pika".

I also got a male Pichu through Global Trading System (GTS) the wireless world trading forum, making matching pair. At least I can raise and rename the Pichus, Pikachus and Raichus I want.

60 hours (almost). I think I'm almost done with the story.

I'm finding that this RPG is pretty boring at times. It really doesn't matter what Pokemon I raise, just as long as I land a hit that doesn't give the enemy a chance to retaliate. But if I invest time in the wrong Pokemon, I get hit hard at the trainer sessions. I also get frustrated with not having a clue sizing up the boss attacks. Finally the game tosses me a bone and gives me a hint application that tells what kinda attacks give the best counters, but it requires some homework.

I want to catch them all, but I get the feeling that it will take 200 hours to capture all the off-line ones. I do play this during the commute but it just feel like Kawaii Progress Quest infused with slot machines. I hate slot machines and anything that reminds me of money gambling.

Pokemon, it's an RPG that will suck the vitality out of me. So repetitive.

I choose you... Pokemon Platinum

(tags game, Dual Screen, Pokemon, Pikachu)

I finally bought a canonical Pokemon game, Pokemon Platinum. Well actually I had Pokemon Pikachu but I don't want to play black and white games anymore. I bought this version because I believed that this second iteration on the DS would be refined and fixed. Also I opted for the English version because I'm tired of reading katakana.

My first impressions were that this was going to be a grind... and a slow grind because of all the Pokemon creatures I can readily swap out. OMG, this is gamer lock-in, isn't it. Plus it's the kind of menu fighting that I wanted to quit. Finally, there's nothing to test my reflexes in this game. Luckily I'm still playing my Xbox and Rubik's Cube.

My goals are to:

• Get a Pikachu, a Pichu and other cute characters.
• Finish the story mode.
• Fill out my off-line game roster.

I've already spent 10 hours but the slow leveling up and the slow screen animations still irritates me. I am overwhelmed with all the things you can level up. I did take a peek at a GameFAQ but I will stop looking at it until after I finish the story mode. Also the GameSpot Guide was informative and spoiler-free.

I'm impressed with the promise of the online component. I don't know if I'll have anything valuable to trade, though.

The main thing that made me reconsider getting a canonical Pokemon game now was the limited chance to catch Shaymin from a Download Station in retail stores this last Golden Week. Unfortunately, it requires unlocking the "global roster" and probably the Japanese version of this game. Shaymin is one of the cuter characters that had a movie promotion last year, I think. I want one of those, too, but I doubt I can clear all of the required conditions before this promotion is over.

Pikachu labeling: Tepra PRO Tape Cartridges

(tags Tepra, label, Pikachu, Pokemon, sticker)

Tepra PRO tape cartridge is an office supply that has Japanese national recognition, like Swingline Staplers in the States. At work, if we want to label something like a file folder or a cable automatically, we bring out the labeling machine and the Tepra.

I actually bought a labeling machine for my own personal use, but it was right before the models that support USB. I'm still kicking myself even now.

Today, after the Dream Party 2008-11 Osaka convention, I made my way through Nipponbashi and back to Osaka (station). There was no Mirror's Edge anywhere to be found, arrgh! The Pokemon Center was still open though at 6:10 PM, so I cruised on in. I spied this Tetra tape:

Such a happy little fellow. I'm a happy fellow for just looking at Pikachu. 和みますって！I suppose I have a bad case of Pikachu moe.

So I better start labeling, since each tape cost me about 1200 yen. 5 meters should last me a couple of years, ha.

This totally reminds me that I have another Pikachu post theme. I took a whole gang of pictures but I am too lazy to write the accompanying text. Perhaps in another month? Gotta space the Pikachu dosage out.