What got me into Pokémon?
As a young kid, I was quite a fan of handheld games. In elementary school, I often played hella Pokémon on my Game Boy, mostly during car rides. Clearly, I grew to be quite an avid fan of the game. My first ever Pokémon game was Pokémon Silver, but I fell in love with the series while playing LeafGreen. I was low-key turned off for a bit after a quick Google search taught me that you couldn't acquire an Arcanine in LeafGreen, but I persevered. A silly game reset by me out of boredom, however, made me quit for quite a bit because I didn't feel like going through the whole game again. My ten-year-old self wasn't the most logical of beings.
Later, in middle school, nostalgia struck and I began my LeafGreen escapades yet again. This time, however, I wanted to be a biblical beast and create the most unbeatable team possible. After Googling some Pokémon questions, I magically came across a community of Pokémon players much like myself. I was astounded that this seemingly mundane and childish game had so much more depth and theory than I had first assumed, and I was extremely hyped to partake in the conversation. I downloaded Shoddy Battle, the simulator that Smogon endorsed, only to find out it was a desolate place. It was a huge buzzkill, and my hype soon died for another six months or so until, after another nostalgia kick, I found out that Pokémon Online existed. I joined my first server, PokéBattleCenter, under the name Quinty (lol) and acclimated to the environment; this was my first real introduction to the 'internet' and actual interaction with others on this platform. Later, I gradually made my way to good ol' Smogon, and the rest is history.
What are my favorite Pokémon memories?
The reason I stay on this website is because of the people and friends I've met (and still meet) throughout the years. To me, while I still appreciate and enjoy the game to a high degree, the wide array of human experience keeps me here. My perspective has changed drastically from when I first started, but I still maintain a uninhibited love for the game and its intricacies. The disconnect for me nowadays arises from me growing older but the community staying the same age. My memories of being surrounded by people with whom I could confide in during some of my developmental years are my fondest. When I first joined Smogon, I grew quite close to two users in particular: BKC and Bloo. Four years have passed, and I still talk to them on a regular basis. Internet friends are often seen as fickle, but I've found a reliable group of users throughout my time that have made the site fun. These conversations will be something I will always treasure. I have several games I remember that are highlights in my Pokémon career, but they pale in comparison to the enjoyment I've received from the community.
How has Pokémon affected my life?
At a young age, Smogon introduced me to the smartest people I had ever met at the time. Not many 16-year-olds have the opportunity to converse with university students on a regular basis. The breadth of knowledge I learned is amazing. I had never been introduced to the nuances of game theory, argument construction, logical thinking, etc. in such a seasoned setting. Being a part of this community drastically improved my critical thinking and literary competence. Besides that, Smogon enabled me to become far more socially aware. It seems quite paradoxical to think that playing a computer game gives social skills, but I have a waaaaaaaaaaaaay sharper wit and I am way more competent in general with other people. Smogon was definitely a catalyst in this department for me because I grew a lot of confidence by becoming involved with the community. In general, Smogon was truly a blessing during my teenage years by providing me an outlet to have fun and experience an environment where I was able to interact with interesting people. Pokémon definitely affected my life for the better. Nowadays, while I'm far less involved, I just enjoy the banter and superficial trolling for entertainment purposes.