Anne from Pikapi Podcast drops by to discuss the music of PokePark 2: Wonders Beyond for the Wii. This sometimes-forgotten sequel delivers a fresh set of tunes, which have some interesting structural ties to the game. Afterwards, we move on to our feedback section, where we ponder whether the Japanese version of the second movie may have originally had a different credits song, and why having a backup plan is good idea. Finally, there’s a Wonders Beyond game discussion after the outro:
Monday, December 18, 2023
Friday, December 1, 2023
I went to my congressperson’s office to talk about AI. Here’s what I learned.
After writing some comments for the US Copyright Office’s comment period on artificial intelligence, I decided this topic was important enough that I should talk to someone at my local congressperson’s office about it. After a bit of phone tag and filling out forms, I was able to get a meeting with one of the staffers during lunchtime earlier this week.
The office was located in downtown Madison, WI, not far from
the state capitol building. I wanted to do a live demo, so this involved
carrying my personal laptop and a full external GPU setup around for the day (which
was hard on my legs, as you can imagine). I arrived at the office just before
noon (after picking up lunch) and waited to be let into the office. After a
short time, I was let in and was able to set up in their conference room.
As I was setting up and starting Stable Diffusion, I asked
the two staffers in attendance what their background in artificial intelligence
was. It seemed that neither was familiar with much beyond ChatGPT, so I gave
them a chance to suggest images to be rendered, and showed them around the
Automatic1111 interface, including the upscaling and img2img features.
The staffers had a number of technical questions about the
technology, which was to be expected. I did have to caveat that even as someone
with a computer science background, some of the aspects were difficult for me
to understand as well. That aside, I explained how diffusion models work, with
a focus on how data is represented in the model, and how an image model is more
a loose understanding of concepts and connections between them, not a
database of image data. I also did my best to explain the importance of GPU
technology, cost of training/operating models, etc.
A few other things I tried to get across:
-Any regulation that gets enacted needs to have some level
of public compliance to be viable, especially since the things individuals and
small groups can do will continue to expand as compute power continues to grow.
-Nearly every application of AI has both legitimate and illicit uses, so it’s
going to be difficult (if not impossible) to make clear lines in regulation.
-I don’t expect to get exactly what I want out of court rulings and
legislation. That’s life.
-Video/audio enhancement AI probably has as much or more potential in
the near term as generative AI, but isn’t getting as much attention because it
isn’t controversial enough.
-Media outlets will start making use of generative AI in speculative content
(what if they made a movie about X starring actor Y?), so it’s not just a “freedom
of expression” issue, but also a “freedom of the press” issue.
-In addition to a wide array of first amendment issues, there may also be fifth
amendment considerations-I see a good chance of a case arising from the use of
an AI voice in court.
Here's what I learned/noticed from them:
-Although some legislation is being worked on (I mentioned I
was aware of the “No Fakes” act), they didn’t seem to think much would get
passed before cases got to trial or during this session of congress (i.e.
through the end of next year), so if you want to contact your elected
officials, now’s a good time.
-They seemed genuinely interested in learning more, and I might get asked again
in the future.
-The older staffer took notes (handwritten!) on some of the things I said and
showed.
Overall, I thought the meeting was productive and I was
listened to with respect and consideration.
If you’re similarly interested/concerned about artificial intelligence,
I’d suggest reaching out to your elected officials as well.
Saturday, November 4, 2023
Poke Press Digest Podcast: Episode 68-Discussing the music of "Pokémon Rumble Blast"/Who said that?
In the first segment (1:14-28:42), Anne from Pikapi Podcast drops by to discuss the music of Pokémon Rumble Blast for the 3DS. Like practically everything else in this entry, the soundtrack is an expansion of the original Rumble’s, but that didn't stop us from making some interesting observations. If you want to know what we thought of the game itself, be sure to listen after the outro.
Our second segment (29:41-46:19) is a quiz of sorts, where I play disguised versions of voice clips from prior episodes, and Anne tries to guess which of us said it, as well as what we were talking about. Listen closely and see if you can figure it out before she does:
Links:
Sunday, October 15, 2023
Poke Press Digest Podcast: Episode 67-Discussing the Music of "Super Smash Bros. Brawl"
In this episode, Anne from Pikapi Podcast joins me to discuss the music of Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the Wii. This entry in the series massively expanded the number of available tracks, so the two of us had to be very picky in narrowing that down. After that topic, we have our feedback section, where I give a detailed explanation of why Pokémon: The First Movie doesn’t look completely uniform, and how that might be… “fixed”. Finally, be sure to listen after the outro, where we have a Brawl gameplay discussion, and a preview of our next episode:
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
Recap: Side Events at Peoria Regionals 2023
Last weekend, I attended the Pokémon Regionals in Peoria, IL. Rather than participating in the main events, I decoded to spend some time in the side events area:
Saturday, October 7, 2023
Looking for things to do in Japan? Pokémon can help.
At this year's Pokémon World Championships in Yokohama, I found a display touting "Pokémon Pickup Japan", the company's social media outreach for visitors to the country:
Monday, September 18, 2023
Where did those bottles come from?
In a recent discussion about PokePark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure, I recount a task that involved taking some bottles from the beach to a nearby recycling bin:
Sunday, August 13, 2023
Pokémon Promotes Recycling? (Worlds 2023)
At this year's Pokémon World Championships in Yokohama, Japan, I had an opportunity to visit the Pokémon Activity Center, where I found a curious use of Grimer to promote recycling. I suppose it's not so surprising when you consider how the franchise has attempted to gamify walking, sleeping, and other regular activities:
Tuesday, August 1, 2023
Cosplayer Interview: Goosaphone
Where are you from, and how did you get into Pokémon?
I’m from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I got into Pokémon when I was just 3 years old from the Indigo League anime. That year, I got Pokémon Yellow and a Game Boy Color for Christmas. I was obsessed!
How did you get started in cosplay?
My first cosplay I wore to a convention was May from Ruby & Sapphire when I was a sophomore in high school. I used my natural hair and clothes I bought-I only made the bandana myself. I’m remaking the cosplay this year with a proper wig and more accurate clothing, since that was over a decade ago. My skills have improved so much since then!
How did you choose costumes for this year’s event?
To be honest, attending NAIC was a bit of a last-minute decision for me, so I didn’t have a plan for a cosplay lineup initially. I was already working on Elesa, and since I wore Skyla to Milwaukee regionals a month before, I thought NAIC would be a good fit for her debut.
And the other costumes for the weekend?
For Saturday, I initially wanted to be Sonia from Sword & Shield on Saturday, but the outfit wasn’t really weather appropriate. Serena was better suited for the warm weather, and she’s a very recognizable character, so I decided to bring her. For Sunday, I chose to bring my “Champion Ash” to celebrate Ash's victory in the Master’s Eight tournament that came to Netflix the week before NAIC.
What went into making the Elesa costume?
Some of it is secondhand and some of it is handmade. The dress is made of a flexible material in three colors, the collar is from my Serena cosplay, and the headphones I painted and glued some cords onto.
Part of the outfit I got online, like the vest, and other parts are altered clothes or official toys. For the logo design, like the backpack and hat, I used a machine called a Cricut to cut out foam and vinyl (respectively). I got some basketball shorts online that I custom-dyed. For the wig, I used a black wig that I already had, and I cut, crimped, and spiked it. I had to use thinning shears to thin out the fibers so I could fit the hat on top! Ash uses all three regional gimmicks between gens 6-8, so I wanted to incorporate that into the cosplay. I glued a mega keystone of the glove for the mega glove. I purchased an official Z-Power Ring with Pikachunium Z and Dynamax Band replica toys for the other two gimmicks. I also have an official Rotom Phone like Ash has. I bought Leon's cape online as a finishing touch. Lastly, for the makeup, I contour my face to look more boyish, thicken and darken my eyebrows, line my eyes with black, and use an eye pencil to create those Z-shaped cheek marks he had.
Is it difficult to bring multiple cosplays to an event?
It depends! It’s always a challenge to cosplay on Sunday, since it's shorter, and a lot of the times you have to worry about checking out of the hotel too. It’s only really a pain if there is a lot of armor or big props, and most Pokémon characters don't have that problem, fortunately. Most of the problem is having the motivation to get up, get ready, and for Pokémon events, potentially compete.
What other cosplays have you done recently?
Most of what I cosplay is from Fire Emblem, but lately I've done a lot of Pokémon. Goh from the Journeys anime, Rosa from Black & White 2, and Vaporeon are some of my more recent ones. My Rosa cosplay was even featured in the trailer for Chuggaaconroy's BW2 Let's Play!
What else did you do at NAIC this year?
I competed in Pokémon Puzzle League! I play this game very seriously, and it’s based on the anime, which is one of my favorite things about it, because there aren't any other Anipoke games out there. I ended up placing 1st on Friday, 3rd on Saturday, and 2nd on Sunday. I also did side events for GO and VGC. Between all of those, I won a ton of prize tickets that I cashed in for plushies and other merchandise!
Monday, July 31, 2023
Poke Press Digest Podcast: Episode 66-Day 2 Events/Discussing the music of "PokePark Wii"
In the first segment (1:22-3:54), I interview Vince Krekeler of Day 2 events, the company that runs many of the regional Pokemon tournaments in the middle of the US. I took this opportunity to talk with him about how things are going for the first full season back from the pandemic, and gave him an opportunity to talk about some of the other events they run.
The second segment (4:56-45:45) is a discussion of the music of PokePark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure. Anne from Pikapi Podcast helps me cover the soundtrack of this final fourth generation side game. As you might expect, PokePark's array of environments meant that we got to discuss a wide range of tunes. If you want to know what we thought of the game itself, we examine that after the outro:
Links:
Sunday, July 23, 2023
What if other Pokémon movies got CGI remakes? (via Stable Diffusion)
Ever since the release of Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution in 2019/2020, folks (including myself) have wondered what other Pokémon movies might look like if they got a CGI remake. While there's no practical way to definitively answer that, with the help of the Stable Diffusion image generation framework, we can get a glimpse of what such a movie might look like. I took stills from a number of Pokémon Movies and used a "Modern Disney" model in combination with an embedding I generated using stills from Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution (I also retouched the images afterwards to improve their appearance).
Technical Details:
Model Used: Modern Disney
Embeddings Used: Custom "Mewtwo Strikes Back Evolution" embedding
Front End: Automatic1111
Base Render Resolution: 512*512 (upscaled to 1024*1024)
ControlNet Features Used: SoftEdge, Color, Canny, Reference
GPU: NVIDIA RTX 3050
Monday, June 12, 2023
Pokémon Midwest Regionals 2023: Vince Krekeler of Day 2 Events
At the recent Midwest Pokémon Regionals in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, I had a chance to interview Vince Krekeler of Day 2 Events about the current tournament season, as well as some things in the near future.
Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Poke Press Digest Podcast: Episode 65: Discussing the Music of Pokemon Ranger: Guardian Signs
Anne from Pikapi Podcast joins me to discuss the music of Pokémon Ranger: Guardian Signs for the DS. This final entry in the trilogy may not change the Ranger formula drastically, but it does come with a wide array of new tunes. As usual, there’s a game discussion after the outro:
Friday, May 5, 2023
I used AI to generate realistic pictures of Pokémon Masters EX characters. Here's what I got.
In my continuing experiments with Stable Diffusion, I took screenshots from Pokémon Masters EX and attempted to create photorealistic versions of the characters. Watch as Anne from Pikapi Podcast attempts to identify them:
Don't have a lot of time? Check out this short to see all the images. How many did you recognize?
Monday, May 1, 2023
Poke Press Digest Podcast: Episode 64-Discussing the music of "Pokemon Rumble"
Anne from Pikapi Podcast drops in to help discuss the music of Pokemon Rumble. This WiiWare title is definitely meatier than My Pokemon Ranch in terms of gameplay, and we try to figure out if the soundtrack follows suit. As usual, there's a gameplay discussion after the outro, where among other things we compare Rumble to Pokemon Unite:
Wednesday, April 26, 2023
Musician Interview: GlitchxCity
 |
| GlitchxCity |
Where are you from, and how did you get into music?
I’m based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in Texas. I got a
late start in music when I chose choir as my arts elective in middle school,
and then carried on with that in high school.
How
did you get into Pokémon, and when did that start crossing into your musical
work?
I got into Pokémon when I was 5 back in the 90s (like every
kid)! It was actually the anime that introduced me to the series, and I’ve
stuck with it ever since. It wasn’t until I was in high school where I wanted
to have a creative outlet to show my love for the series.
How do you choose
which tracks to remix/rearrange/create?
It depends on how I’m feeling and what the community is
feeling. When a new generation drops, I pay attention to the characters that
may have huge potential in the game and hope that their themes match up to my
expectations. Outside of Pokémon tracks, I’m working on other projects from
originals, to commercial work, and even tracks from other video game series!
My most recent Pokémon track is the “Battle! AI Professor!”
theme from Scarlet and Violet. The original was written by Toby Fox and I was
so ecstatic to get my hands on it. It’s honestly one of my favorite battle
themes I’ve worked on and I’m thoroughly proud of how it came out!
Anything coming in the near future you'd like to tease?
I just wrapped up a large project that will be launching on
May 5th and I’m really excited for people to hear it! I’m also working on more
long-form compilation projects that will launch during the summer in
collaboration with a few illustrators!
Where can folks find you online?
You can find me on YouTube where I upload all my
Pokémon and other video game related remixes, Soundcloud for an ad-free
listening experience, and Spotify and Apple Music
for streaming my music!
Sunday, April 16, 2023
Excerpt: Which XY Pokémon Movie is the most popular?
In this excerpt from a recent round of Pokémon music trivia, I explain which Pokemon movie from the X & Y generation is the most popular, at least from what I've observed:
Wednesday, March 29, 2023
Review: The Arceus Chronicles: Gen 4 Anime Callbacks and Little Else
“The Arceus Chronicles” is one of the few Pokémon outings (it’s promoted as a movie, but it’s really more of a mini-series) that I consider legitimately bad, and would not recommend to even to fans of the franchise. It could certainly be worse, and there are those that will enjoy it, but I would suggest spending your time with one of the recent alternate universe movies instead.
Thematically, I’m not sure what the project was going for. It seems like it was supposed to be a tie-in for the Legends Arceus game, but very little from the game makes it into this, outside of a recreation in the early part of the film. Instead, the story mostly focuses on an attempt by members of Team Galactic to rescue Cyrus (their leader) from the dimensional rift he was imprisoned in during the Diamond & Pearl generation of the anime. This is a fine premise, but conflicted with my expectations of a time-traveling adventure back to Hisui, which I think would have connected better with the first part of the special.
The animation is okay. It’s clearly a step up from a regular episode, but not on the level of what one of the full-fledged animated Pokémon movies would have gotten.
Pacing is what really dragged this down for me. It really does seem like they had to pad things out to fit the target run time, and I wanted this to end 5-15 minutes earlier than it did, even when I was watching it with other Pokémon fans at Worlds 2022 in London. There simply wasn’t enough action or character development to keep me interested.
Musically, I don’t think there was much memorable about the score, nor were there any vocal songs. As is usually the case with the TV show, much of the Japanese score was replaced, but as someone who hasn’t found the work of Shinji Miyazaki and co. particularly interesting as of late, I’m skeptical it would make much of a difference, regardless of quality.
Pretty much the only thing I can say this special does well is bring back characters from the Diamond & Pearl arc of the TV show. If you wanted to see Dawn, Brock, Cynthia, or their Pokémon, they show up, though I can’t say they were used in a particularly interesting way.
Part of me really wants to know what happened with this project. It’s possible the writers weren’t allowed to use as much material from the Legends Arceus game as they wanted, or that multiple ideas were pitched and this is the result of some sort of compromise. Whatever the reason, it seems very likely that this wasn’t given enough time and other resources to coalesce into an interesting product. As I stated earlier, do yourself a favor and watch one of the alternate timeline movies instead (particularly “The Power of Us” or “Secrets of the Jungle”, which could use some more attention). I can’t guarantee you’ll love them, but the odds definitely seem better.
-Steven "Yoshi" Reich, Poke Press Editor
Sunday, March 26, 2023
Anime Milwaukee 2023: Merari Marin of Pengunia’s Presents
*A press pass was provided for this event.
Where are you from, and how did you get into craftwork as
a profession?
I’m based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I got into crafting
because ever since I was young, I was always making things. I love art and the
different mediums it can take.
How did you get into making the Pokémon terrariums?
I got into it because I love Pokémon. I remember collecting
the cards when I was younger and imagining a whole world just from the card
artwork. The terrariums express that imaginary world in the real world.
What goes into making them?
The amount of work that goes into making them varies
depending on the world I decide to create for the terrarium. For example, the longest
process is the lava layouts I make, but they’re also by far my favorite to
make.
As for materials, I’m always on the lookout for items that
fit inside the terrarium that make the world feel a little more real. For
example, I found these mini wheelbarrows and they fit inside the Poké Ball. I
imagined someone collecting flowers and putting them inside the wheelbarrow and
pop! There's an Eevee in the wheelbarrow amongst the flowers.
As I mentioned before, the lava layouts I make are my
favorite layouts; they especially stand out when they have lights inside. I
also very much enjoy making Vaporeon terrariums, as that's my favorite Pokémon.
However, any time I have someone reach out to me for a custom terrarium, those
are by far my favorite to make. I recently made a Porygon and that one I
absolutely adored. Knowing someone has a special place in their heart for each Pokémon,
I want to make sure that feeling is conveyed in the efforts I put into making
the terrarium.
What's it like being a vendor at an anime convention?
It's so much fun! Meeting new people, seeing familiar faces
adds to the experience. Seeing someone's face light up when they find their
favorite Pokémon or seeing someone mentally debating which Pokémon to take
home, seeing all those emotions sometimes still surprises me; that my creations
can stir those positive feelings. I hope when people stop by my booth it adds
happiness to their day at the con. Being able to be a part of such a positive
experience is really enlightening.
Any other conventions you'll be at in the near future?
I will be at Carthage Con
on April 15,2023 in Kenosha, Wi. I will also be at Anime Magic in August 18-20, 2023 in
Rosemont, Il. My schedule is usually updated on my Instagram.
Where can folks find you online?
People can follow my work on Instagram and they can
also reach out to me at my email.
If you'd like to see more of Merari's work, take a look at this short:
Thursday, March 9, 2023
Poke Press Digest Podcast: Episode 63-Anime Milwaukee 2023/Discussing the music of "Pokemon Ranger: Shadows of Almia"
The first segment (1:14-9:00) contains a pair of voice actor interviews from Anime Milwaukee 2023*. Listen in as Suzie Yeung and Leah Clark share their experiences working on Pokemon. If you'd like to know more about what I did at the convention, look for a link in the episode description.
The second segment (9:58-43:30) is a discussion of the music of Pokemon Ranger: Shadows of Almia. Anne from Pikapi Podcast drops by to help me cover the middle entry in this sub-series. Of course, this title is also known for its mechanical changes, and you'll hear us talk about those in the game discussion after the outro:
*A press pass was provided for this event.
Links:
Wednesday, March 1, 2023
Leah Clark Discusses Playing Carlita in the Victini Movies
At Anime Milwaukee 2023, I was able to to interview Leah Clark, who played Carlita in the Victini movies. Find out what the experience was like, and about some of her other roles:
A press pass was provided for this event.
Monday, February 20, 2023
Anime Milwaukee 2023: Smash Ultimate Runner-Up
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| Christopher Hewitt |
Where are you from, and how did you get into competitive Smash?
I’ve been all over the state of Wisconsin, but I’m currently living in Oshkosh. My roots in competitive Smash stem from the Brawl Club that I’d started at my high school back in 2014. All kinds of students would flock to the library to pick up a Wiimote and duke it out with friends. Some of these students were competitive players, and it was through them that I was introduced to the community. I joined the ranks and started playing in tournaments once Smash 4 was released, and I still occasionally compete to this day.
Which characters do you tend to use in Smash Ultimate?
My main is definitely Ridley. He, just kinda “clicks”, y’know? I love his fantastic punish game and oppressive advantage state; combining these two traits means that even the most minor of mistakes can not only deal absurd damage and potentially kill early, but are also difficult to recover from without allowing yet another punish opportunity. On top of that, his strong offstage presence ensures that Ridley is a threat regardless of stage position. He may not be the strongest pick as far as tiers go, but I think it’s important to play someone that feels natural to you. Also, I like that two of his skins turn him into a robot space pirate dragon. Look me in the eye and tell me you don’t want to play as a robot space pirate dragon.
Other characters I play tend to cover Ridley’s weaknesses. For example, I play Inkling or Shulk into fighters with strong zoning and projectile games, while I counter aggressive rushdown opponents with Meta Knight or Zero Suit Samus. These picks help shore up matchups I’m not confident taking Ridley into.
What changes have you noticed in the Smash Ultimate metagame over the last year or so?
Over the last year, the second wave of DLC characters have gotten a chance to further develop their own individual metagames. Sephiroth, Pyra and Mythra, Kazuya, and especially Steve have all seen noticeable improvement. I’m quite curious about how much further players can push these fighters, as well as what counterplay will arise from better understanding of their gameplay. Only time will tell.
Any standout matches from earlier in the tournament?
I’m afraid that my memory doesn’t serve me as well as it should as far as the earlier matches are concerned. Had a bit of personal drama going on. I would like, however, to take this time to compliment a few of my opponents I fought along the way.
Firstly, Matthew, you definitely didn’t deserve to lose the first round, you made me feel like a sandbag with some of those nutty Kazuya combos. If it weren't for Ridley’s range stuffing out approaches, you could have easily taken that set. Kudos.
Secondly, Manny, your Wii Fit Trainer is officially insane. I couldn’t keep up with all the crazy ball setups you were throwing out, and I’m sure all the people you beat would agree. Also, I just want to appreciate all of the janky hitboxes you were taking stocks with. It’s not every day you see Wii Fit Trainer spike someone with a headbutt.
Lastly, Conkerz, I owe you due credit. I’d like to think I’m fairly good at reading people and their next actions, but at no point did I feel this way about your Bowser. Your mix up game is spectacular, and I think it was a major contributor to your victory. Well played, sir.
Speaking of Conkerz, what was it like playing him in the finals?
Getting to finals is a feeling unlike any other. You take a moment to think about how many people you went through and feel immense pride, and then, in that same moment, you recognize that the guy sitting next to you has done the same thing. The realization dawns: You're in for a very tough match, and the entire crowd will be watching you. It’s equal parts nerve-wracking and exhilarating!
Win or lose, the feeling of letting loose on the worthiest opponent the bracket could provide is a euphoria that I wish everyone putting themselves out there and going to tournaments gets to experience at least once. I’m not sure my words could do it justice, to be completely honest.
What was your strategy in that match?
The Ridley vs Bowser matchup is an interesting one, certainly. Allow me to break down the gameplan:
When approaching Bowser, I try to space myself in a way that stays out of range of most of his kit while staying close enough to still land a neutral air or forward tilt. Getting too close to Bowser–or, God forbid, touching his shield–is exceptionally risky; Bowser can easily intercept bad approaches with his up special or take an early stock with his invincible up smash. These scenarios are to be avoided by playing patiently and avoiding unsafe commitments.
Once I get in on Bowser, he’s pretty easy to combo; Bowser’s heavy weight and tall frame make it very easy to rack up damage on him with a down throw or down tilt string. At this time, I switch to a more aggressive playstyle, as Bowser is no longer able to access most of his defensive tools that previously kept me at bay. Ridley is capable of dealing tons of damage in short order if you can’t shake him off, which is key against Bowser, as the turtle can take quite a beating before going down.
Taking a stock from Bowser usually happens in one of two ways: I either read his next move and respond with a kill move like forward smash or back air at higher percents, or try to gimp his recovery off the side of the stage with my aerials at lower percents. The former method requires a bit of planning, as Ridley’s kill moves tend to be slow or require good positioning to land, while the latter method requires me to get Bowser off the stage first and can be tricky to time. I can also catch Bowser in his shield with a side special and toss him off the screen, but missing leaves me wide open to attack. I have a lot of options, as you can see, but they all have their inherent risks.
That’s a good strategy, but it sounds like putting it into practice is a bit more complicated. What happened?
During the match, especially in the third game, the nerves started kicking in and I began deviating from the gameplan. I started throwing out attacks too aggressively in neutral and not paying as much attention to Bowser’s actions as I should have, ultimately leading to me losing the set to him 2-1.
In the theoretical rematch, I’d probably try to take a moment to calm the nerves and think more rationally. Losing your head against Bowser is a great way to take home a big ol’ L.
What else did you do at Anime Milwaukee this year?
I spent a good chunk of the convention in the game room, grinding out games of Smash with as many people as I could. Scandalous, I know. I really enjoy playing against new people, learning their ins and outs and testing their mettle. Makes for good practice. I also like to try teaching a thing or two to people who aren’t as familiar with the game in goofy, casual style. I feel this helps people realize that the competitive community isn’t as scary as it may seem from the outset. We don’t bite, I promise.
Outside of game room escapades, I mostly accompanied my girlfriend to the vendor hall as the resident pack mule. As it turns out, not many cosplays are designed with storage in mind, so I don't mind lending a hand. We were both really impressed by the art and items on offer this year, so budgeting everything out was much more difficult than anticipated. I also want to give the drag show a quick shoutout, as it had no right being so ridiculously entertaining. It’s abundantly clear you guys put a lot of effort and love into your craft. Go you.
Friday, February 17, 2023
Suzie Yeung talks about playing Jupiter in Pokémon Evolutions
At Anime Milwaukee 2023, I had an opportunity to interview Suzie Yeung about her role as "Jupiter" in the Pokémon Evolutions web series, as well as other aspects of her career:
A press pass was provided for this event.
Monday, February 13, 2023
Excerpt: Voice actor Martha Harms explains how music shaped her career
In this excerpt from a press session at Anime Milwaukee 2023, voice actor Martha Harms explains how she participated in music growing up, and how that led to her working in voice over:
A press pass was provided for this event.
Anime Milwaukee Website
Monday, January 16, 2023
Poke Press Digest Podcast: Episode 62-Discussing the Music of "My Pokemon Ranch"/Pokemon Music Trivia
In the first segment (1:15-24:18), Anne from Pikapi Podcast joins me to discuss the music of My Pokemon Ranch for the Wii. While it might be light in...a lot of areas, this title still had enough material for us to make some observations. As usual, there's a game discussion after the outro.
Our second segment (25:22-49:32) is a round of Pokemon music trivia. Anne tests her knowledge against a quiz covering the games, anime, and more! If you'd like to give it a try, there’s a link in the episode description:
Links:
My Pokemon Ranch Events
First Movie music discussion
Quiz (link expires Feb. 11th 2023)
Pikapi Podcast
Poke Casters Network
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