Issue #23 Released!

***Setsuna***** · Dec 27th, 2012, 5:55:32 PM

How does it feel to get a new issue of The Smog a little over a month after we released the previous one? Us at The Smog team think it feels great! It turns out that the structural changes we've put in place have really paid off, as issue #23 brings with it almost 40 articles, which was the regular number we were getting before we shifted to the month-to-month schedule. This has all been accomplished regardless of college finals that most of us have had to deal with lately, and of course holidays. Everybody at The Smog has done a phenomenal job to make this release happen, and they all deserve a big round of applause!

You will also notice how The Smog is entering this holiday season with a new look and feel in sections such as the main page and the issues themselves (starting with #23), although the rest of the magazine has received some nice improvements as well. Toast and I decided that it would be cool to have a new design ready with this release, as The Smog had been wearing the old outfit for far too long and it was just time to do something about that. But, don't think we're stopping here; you can expect much more this coming year, as we hope to make some dramatic changes to the magazine in the technical front.

Last but not least, I want to give a special mention to Birkal, ium, sandshrewz, and Toast, who all went over the top with their contributions this time around. I also want to thank our Staff member jumpluff, who came back from her leave as we began to prepare this issue last month, and the work she's done is wonderful. Thank you all!

Happy Holidays!

~Setsuna

ium · Dec 27th, 2012, 5:57:04 PM

what a wonderful congregation of writers and artists. :)

***Jellicent**** · Dec 27th, 2012, 6:00:13 PM

Great work everyone; this issue looks fantastic ^.^

***jumpluff**** · Dec 27th, 2012, 6:01:00 PM

I had a tl;dr written up but then I went to bed and lost it. Anyway, I had a lot of fun putting this together, so I hope you guys enjoy. Thank you so much for your hard work on the redesign, Toast and Setsuna, and a special thanks to my loyal underlings, sandshrewz and ium, as well as all the relief writers and back-up artists who made the final week possible and run more smoothly than any release I've participated in during my ridiculously long tenure. Happy New Year, Smogon! ^_^

Please note that we are implementing some new approvals processes for aspiring contributors (artists and writers) that should make everything so much smoother for staff and authors/artists alike. More details will be forthcoming in the following days, so if you desire to be a part of The Smog in future issues, you'll have all you need to know then! This means that if you'd like to apply to write or draw for The Smog, please remain patient until everything is revealed. ^_^

SuperJOCKE · Dec 27th, 2012, 6:04:25 PM

Once again the level of fun has reached a new height for me personally. Had even more fun working this issue than the last one. Many great articles to GP check, and I especially liked the teamwork I had with some of the guys here this issue, especially the one with pluff in the mornings. :)

Great job you guys. sandz and Ritter, it was once again a pleasure.

***jumpluff**** · Dec 27th, 2012, 6:05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fat SuperJOCKE

Once again the level of fun has reached a new height for me personally. Had even more fun working this issue than the last one. Many great articles to GP check, and I especially liked the teamwork I had with some of the guys here this issue, especially the one with pluff in the mornings. :)

Great job you guys. sandz and Ritter, it was once again a pleasure.

^5 SuperJOCKE, we the best GP/HTML duo. :D

DTC · Dec 27th, 2012, 6:06:27 PM

It's unfortunate that Birkal left mid-release. Thankfully, ium picked up most of the paperwork that Birkal left behind. Cheers ium and thanks for taking initiative~

SuperJOCKE · Dec 27th, 2012, 6:08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fat jumpluff

^5 SuperJOCKE, we the best GP/HTML duo. :D

We sure are! :D

Its_A_Random · Dec 27th, 2012, 6:09:41 PM

Great work on getting this issue together everyone! ^_^

As a first time writer for this magazine, I have to say that writing for The Smog was a blast, & I may come back to write more articles in future issues!

Other than that, yeah. Thanks Jelli for the collab, ium for taking over Birkal, all the glorious art, & the rest of the gang for what looks like a wonderful issue! Pleasure to be a part of it! :)

ium · Dec 27th, 2012, 6:14:32 PM

also, congratulations toastplusone on

.

he's been a huge help with the technical aspect of the smog, and the new design he made is neat.

lastly, thank you elcheeso, bummer, rittercat, and sandshrewz for helping me take on last minute art since birkal was being a ding dong ditcher.

:>

Rodan · Dec 27th, 2012, 6:18:32 PM

this is a great issue!

Superpowerdude · Dec 27th, 2012, 6:21:26 PM

Ah my debut smog article! I think this article was a great succes and that we all really pulled it together despite some people having to leave and others being a little inactive. This was the first smog article I have played a part in and I can say to anyone wanting to write an article for the smog to just do it! I was a bit nervous and smog work is something I have been interested in but have never done. I am glad I gave it a try and expect more articles from me in the upcoming smogs! I would like to thank the whole smog team for being very welcome to me and for being such hard workers you guys are the greatest!

Danmire · Dec 27th, 2012, 6:30:54 PM

Great work everyone! I enjoyed writing the articles with my fellow authors :) The new format looks hella rad!

***Oglemi**** · Dec 27th, 2012, 6:41:21 PM

Jeez I'm credited in the author list for 5 articles for this issue what am I doing with my life ;-;

Good job everyone I love you :3

Layell · Dec 27th, 2012, 7:06:43 PM

Challenge to anyone who is not already a smog contributor: figure out who wrote which gym entries in the Can You Even Lift article out of myself, rodan, and tennisace, can you do it?

Special thanks to Birkal for letting me finish the nutshell article. Before I took up as co-writer for it he was already asking me to help contribute events from the year.

Also I'm really happy with the PokeTour of course, which seemed to be the one article that wouldn't get done and just had to because it's the holidays. But somehow it's the biggest PokeTour so far I'm really glad.

GJ everyone we managed in spite of exams, holidays, vacations and everything in between. Here is to another great year of The Smog!

**Arcticblast** · Dec 27th, 2012, 7:13:01 PM

Working on this was a blast; good job and thanks for letting me in! I like palindromes, so post #2442 :D

Windsong · Dec 27th, 2012, 7:53:01 PM

this was an amazing issue to work on and holy shit ium is cute <333333

Omicron · Dec 27th, 2012, 8:47:40 PM

good stuff here

good job to all those involved

=]

Joeyboy · Dec 27th, 2012, 8:55:25 PM

Yay! Again, I loved working on The Smog!! Great job everyone, especially like the new lay out. Very snazzy.

**PK Gaming** · Dec 27th, 2012, 9:06:51 PM

Awesome issue, working on this and talking to my co-writers was a lot of run.

V0x · Dec 27th, 2012, 9:19:15 PM

ooh, I love the new index page layout thing, also great work everyone!

Yonko7 · Dec 27th, 2012, 9:36:12 PM

I love the new layout! very crisp~

Novaray · Dec 27th, 2012, 9:55:08 PM

Great work everyone!

Volmise · Dec 27th, 2012, 10:21:00 PM

I really had a ton of fun drawing for this issue! And the final product looks amazing, great job to all involved~!

~~BattleStar~~ · Dec 27th, 2012, 10:33:01 PM

Great issue. I am really enjoying these more frequent issues of the smog. Doesn't feel so time consuming to read it all in one sitting. Big fan of the poke tours.

Dec 27th, 2012, 5:55:32 PM	#1
*Setsuna* Above & Beyond Administrator** Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,090	Issue #23 Released! The Smog #23 How does it feel to get a new issue of The Smog a little over a month after we released the previous one? Us at The Smog team think it feels great! It turns out that the structural changes we've put in place have really paid off, as issue #23 brings with it almost 40 articles, which was the regular number we were getting before we shifted to the month-to-month schedule. This has all been accomplished regardless of college finals that most of us have had to deal with lately, and of course holidays. Everybody at The Smog has done a phenomenal job to make this release happen, and they all deserve a big round of applause! You will also notice how The Smog is entering this holiday season with a new look and feel in sections such as the main page and the issues themselves (starting with #23), although the rest of the magazine has received some nice improvements as well. Toast and I decided that it would be cool to have a new design ready with this release, as The Smog had been wearing the old outfit for far too long and it was just time to do something about that. But, don't think we're stopping here; you can expect much more this coming year, as we hope to make some dramatic changes to the magazine in the technical front. Last but not least, I want to give a special mention to Birkal, ium, sandshrewz, and Toast, who all went over the top with their contributions this time around. I also want to thank our Staff member jumpluff, who came back from her leave as we began to prepare this issue last month, and the work she's done is wonderful. Thank you all! Happy Holidays! ~Setsuna __________________

Dec 27th, 2012, 6:00:13 PM	#3
*Jellicent is 60% water Super Moderator** Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 1,646 (80 PROOF) Mentor	Great work everyone; this issue looks fantastic ^.^ __________________ ^.^

Dec 27th, 2012, 6:01:00 PM	#4
*jumpluff just came to say hello Super Moderator** Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 5,376 Location: Australia Mentor	I had a tl;dr written up but then I went to bed and lost it. Anyway, I had a lot of fun putting this together, so I hope you guys enjoy. Thank you so much for your hard work on the redesign, Toast and Setsuna, and a special thanks to my loyal underlings, sandshrewz and ium, as well as all the relief writers and back-up artists who made the final week possible and run more smoothly than any release I've participated in during my ridiculously long tenure. Happy New Year, Smogon! ^_^ Please note that we are implementing some new approvals processes for aspiring contributors (artists and writers) that should make everything so much smoother for staff and authors/artists alike. More details will be forthcoming in the following days, so if you desire to be a part of The Smog in future issues, you'll have all you need to know then! This means that if you'd like to apply to write or draw for The Smog, please remain patient until everything is revealed. ^_^ __________________

Dec 27th, 2012, 6:04:25 PM	#5
SuperJOCKE Low Tier Warrior! Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,993 Location: Sweden Mentor	Once again the level of fun has reached a new height for me personally. Had even more fun working this issue than the last one. Many great articles to GP check, and I especially liked the teamwork I had with some of the guys here this issue, especially the one with pluff in the mornings. :) Great job you guys. sandz and Ritter, it was once again a pleasure. __________________

Dec 27th, 2012, 6:06:27 PM	#7
DTC Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 1,069 Mentor	It's unfortunate that Birkal left mid-release. Thankfully, ium picked up most of the paperwork that Birkal left behind. Cheers ium and thanks for taking initiative~ __________________ Pokemon Showdown! #pokemon

Dec 27th, 2012, 5:57:04 PM	#2
ium Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 455 Mentor	what a wonderful congregation of writers and artists. :) __________________

Dec 27th, 2012, 6:09:41 PM	#9
Its_A_Random Points out the obvious Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 6,536 A country full of spiders	Great work on getting this issue together everyone! ^_^ As a first time writer for this magazine, I have to say that writing for The Smog was a blast, & I may come back to write more articles in future issues! Other than that, yeah. Thanks Jelli for the collab, ium for taking over Birkal, all the glorious art, & the rest of the gang for what looks like a wonderful issue! Pleasure to be a part of it! :) __________________ [11:42:06] <&@elevator_music> uggh \| [11:42:07] <&@elevator_music> iar \| [11:42:09] <&@elevator_music> because of you \| [11:42:22] <&@elevator_music> a lot of my notes in class are filled with &s

Dec 27th, 2012, 6:14:32 PM	#10
ium Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 455 Mentor	also, congratulations toastplusone on . he's been a huge help with the technical aspect of the smog, and the new design he made is neat. lastly, thank you elcheeso, bummer, rittercat, and sandshrewz for helping me take on last minute art since birkal was being a ding dong ditcher. :> __________________

Dec 27th, 2012, 6:18:32 PM	#11
Rodan feelin frisky Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 4,007 i am a rock	this is a great issue! __________________

Dec 27th, 2012, 6:21:26 PM	#12
Superpowerdude A Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 907 Australia Mentor	Ah my debut smog article! I think this article was a great succes and that we all really pulled it together despite some people having to leave and others being a little inactive. This was the first smog article I have played a part in and I can say to anyone wanting to write an article for the smog to just do it! I was a bit nervous and smog work is something I have been interested in but have never done. I am glad I gave it a try and expect more articles from me in the upcoming smogs! I would like to thank the whole smog team for being very welcome to me and for being such hard workers you guys are the greatest! __________________ #ratemyteam \| Smog Work\| Rater Of the Week \| RMT \| Dogbirds Join #dogbirds on irc!!!

Dec 27th, 2012, 6:30:54 PM	#13
Danmire Like a rolling stone Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 1,045 Miami, FL	Great work everyone! I enjoyed writing the articles with my fellow authors :) The new format looks hella rad! __________________

Dec 27th, 2012, 6:41:21 PM	#14
*Oglemi I crashed my car into the bridge, I don't care Super Moderator** Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 5,504 ~(^.^)~	Jeez I'm credited in the author list for 5 articles for this issue what am I doing with my life ;-; Good job everyone I love you :3 __________________ <shade> what an intense scrotum

Dec 27th, 2012, 7:06:43 PM	#15
Layell Alas poor player! Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,814 I knew him, Neku, a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy.	Challenge to anyone who is not already a smog contributor: figure out who wrote which gym entries in the Can You Even Lift article out of myself, rodan, and tennisace, can you do it? Special thanks to Birkal for letting me finish the nutshell article. Before I took up as co-writer for it he was already asking me to help contribute events from the year. Also I'm really happy with the PokeTour of course, which seemed to be the one article that wouldn't get done and just had to because it's the holidays. But somehow it's the biggest PokeTour so far I'm really glad. GJ everyone we managed in spite of exams, holidays, vacations and everything in between. Here is to another great year of The Smog! __________________ #Orangeislands movie nights: The best way to watch the Pokemon films and specials! * Moderator on smogon's minecraft server * Goodnight Sweet Prince PS/Smogon April Fools 2013: file, credits, and server mode

Dec 27th, 2012, 7:13:01 PM	#16
Arcticblast is going goat Moderator Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 2,963 #serperiors Mentor	Working on this was a blast; good job and thanks for letting me in! I like palindromes, so post #2442 :D __________________ New to Smogon? Afraid to jump into discussion? Introduce yourself! ------------------- Fail Cup \| Scramble! \| RMTs: Blistering Sands (BH) Night Stall (OU) \| The Fringe Tournament \| ARcTicblast \| Other Metagames Premier League \| avatar by raikou00, signature art by Zracknel additional credit to Pocket and AccidentalGreed

Dec 27th, 2012, 7:53:01 PM	#17
Windsong Aim for the moon, even if you miss you’ll land among the stars. Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 817 elsewhere	this was an amazing issue to work on and holy shit ium is cute <333333

Dec 27th, 2012, 8:47:40 PM	#18
Omicron Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 3,041 Seattle, WA	good stuff here good job to all those involved =] __________________

Dec 27th, 2012, 8:55:25 PM	#19
Joeyboy Is the hero Smogon deserves Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,220 Fighting Crime Mentor	Yay! Again, I loved working on The Smog!! Great job everyone, especially like the new lay out. Very snazzy. __________________ VM for an OU Rate \| Latest OU Mini-Tour \| Smog Work

Dec 27th, 2012, 9:06:51 PM	#20
PK Gaming Quiet Thunder God Moderator Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 4,520 Izanagi	Awesome issue, working on this and talking to my co-writers was a lot of run. __________________

Dec 27th, 2012, 9:19:15 PM	#21
V0x I love mafe Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 1,374	ooh, I love the new index page layout thing, also great work everyone! __________________ [21:11] <&Oglemi> opera da best [21:12] <%Birkal> I love opera [21:12] <%Birkal> our college put on cosi last year; it was great [21:12] <%Birkal> OH MY GOODNESS [21:12] <%Birkal> THIS CONVERSATION IS ABOUT WEB BROWSERS [21:12] <%Birkal> =X

Dec 27th, 2012, 9:36:12 PM	#22
Yonko7 You don’t have to forgive me. No matter what you decide from now on, I will love you forever. Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 575 Mentor	I love the new layout! very crisp~ __________________ ✓\| Back in Action \|VM for a GP Stamp \| VM for a RU rate\|

Dec 27th, 2012, 9:55:08 PM	#23
Novaray i am happy Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 1,134 that's just the saddest lie Mentor	Great work everyone! __________________ island in the sun

Dec 27th, 2012, 10:21:00 PM	#24
Volmise .:The Firefly Light:. Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 208 Detroit, Michigan	I really had a ton of fun drawing for this issue! And the final product looks amazing, great job to all involved~! __________________ .:This mess we're in, well you and I, maybe you and I, we can light up the night!:. *** Art Thread \| Deviantart \| Tumblr

Dec 27th, 2012, 10:33:01 PM	#25
~~BattleStar~~ Banned deucer. Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 629 In a desert far away.	Great issue. I am really enjoying these more frequent issues of the smog. Doesn't feel so time consuming to read it all in one sitting. Big fan of the poke tours.