The Gossiper: Volume 5

Typing with an Accent Encouraged in Language Rooms

In real life, people who travel to foreign countries sometimes like to learn basic tidbits of the native language of their destination to fare better in their travels. However, some tourists are encouraged to attempt to speak with the same accent as the natives so as not to "butcher" the language. Similarly, on Showdown, users who enter language rooms are encouraged to type in a similar way to everyone else.

"Nobody wants to sound like a dumb American who's failing at speaking German," says Deutsche Room Owner asgdf. "It would be great for the culture of the room for everyone to type with a German accent instead of typing in German with an American accent."

Although the concept of typing with accents might seem strange, it's very natural. For example, to type in English with a Canadian accent, simply change the "-or" endings of some words to "-our" like as in colour, spell the phrase "out and about" as "oat and a boat" and add "eh?" to the end of most sentences. The writers of The Gossiper would also like to point out that we definitely don't condone stereotyping and that we love Canadians.

The Room Owners of each language room agree that embracing the culture of each room is a fantastic way to improve everyone's experience and that everyone should try to learn a foreign language, especially "that stupid monolingual Moderator MattL, hahahaha."

Generation VII Random Battles Coming Soon

Pokémon Showdown has prided itself on implementing information about new generations of Pokémon as quickly as possible. A month before Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire were officially released, Showdown already had an "OverUsed" metagame complete with accurate Mega Evolutions. This information was obtainable because people had hacked the games' demos, which were released months before the actual games were.

Although Nintendo has not released any information about the Generation VII Pokémon games, Showdown's developers want to "outdo [themselves] this time" and begin implementing Generation VII Pokémon, complete with a Random Battle ladder to use them on.

"By analyzing data from the current six generations, we can extrapolate and definitely be able to predict the names, stats, abilities, and movepools of Pokémon that will be released in GenVII," says Showdown Moderator Marty. "Why, we are already 95% certain that the Gen VII games will be called 'Pokémon Unicorn and Pokémon Sasquatch."

Showdown Administrator The Immortal predicts that the signature legendary Pokémon of Unicorn Version will be named "Daffodil." Its signature move, "Glamorize," increases Daffodil'sevasion by three stages. The signature legendary Pokémon of Sasquatch Version will be called "Chewbacca," which has base 200 Attack.

The new ladder will be up on Showdown this Thursday.

Showdown Accounts to Be Irreversibly Connected to Facebook

Nowadays, every major website on which users create accounts has several avenues to connect with social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. In the same vein, Showdown's developers are working on a highly integrated network between Showdown and Facebook.

"Just like on most sites, we're planning to have the same Facebook icon in the lower corner of the home page that, with a click, allows a user to irreversibly connect their Showdown accounts to their Facebook account," explained Administrator The Immortal. "That way, it becomes much easier for your family and friends to know how much time you spend on here."

After a user has chosen to link to Facebook, their Facebook friends will receive automatic notifications in their News Feeds. Each time the user begins a battle, the link will be posted onto theirFacebook, making it convenient for all of the user's friends to come watch. It also "shows that special someone that you have a crush on how good of a battler you are. Winning battles gets the ladies; trust me, I know," remarked Administrator Joim.

The accounts will be perpetually linked because the developers feel that the News Feeds of everyone who is friends with a Showdown user would benefit by being flooded with battle notifications.

"At the end of the day," said The Immortal, "we're trying to do two things: make Showdown awesome and make moms all around the world proud of their children for their triumphs on the battlefield."

"Showdown is not a dating service," says Zarel

Showdown creator Zarel feels the need to emphasize to the userbase that it is a Pokémon battling simulator with chatroom functionality, not a website designed to facilitate singles' mingles. "Stop asking if anyone wants to be your girlfriend in the Lobby. Nobody cares."

Reporters then asked Zarel how prevalent the issue of users attempting to form relationships is. "When you make an account on Showdown, all you have to enter is your password, not your age, gender, race, hobbies, and whether or not you like to take long walks on the beach. This isn't eHarmony."

One issue that Zarel has with flirtatious figures is that after two people inevitably break up, they tend to blame Zarel for their failed relationship. "Are you serious? I don't even know either of you. Also, she broke up with you because you keep getting muted and banned," Zarel usually responds.

However, Zarel notes that if any Showdown users use an actual matchmaking website, they are encouraged to put Showdown as one of their hobbies. "In that situation, if you meet your future husband or wife because you listed Showdown on Match.com or wherever, you can thank me later. In the meantime, don't get all lovey-dovey with each other on Showdown. Get a room. And not a chatroom. An actual room."