Pokemon Day Presents 2024 - Pokemon LZA 2025

[Yung Dramps]

Pretty much.

With all the distressing issues that VGC has as an eSport, and especially as a spectator event, they clearly want to have more eyes on it. This is why Hawaiian Shirt Ishiwara came in at the very beginning of the event and said, "Hey, we have announcements at the end of this event."

This makes a strong feedback loop not only in the short-term because they're getting more eyeballs on this event, but also setting the stage for Worlds to be an event that Pokémon fans keep their eyes on because there might be valuable information. This makes it more desirable to watch this slop in the future, hopefully at a time where there's more than one set in three hours of yapping and dancing.

This isn't as flashy as a Pokémon Presents, but it's certainly valid and an industry standard.

The only strange bit is why not just say outright that there will be Z-A news if there is any? If the goal is to gin up views for the rest of the broadcast, you'd surely want to offer the strongest, least ambiguous hook possible, no? Unless, of course, there is nothing on Z-A.

 

[PokePoindexter]

I may as well post my top candidates for various toys new games occasionally give previous-gen Pokemon in the short time I have left to pretend there's any chance of them happening before new info potentially gets revealed:

Evolutions

I've noticed something about cross-gen evos over the last couple games to do them: the recipients weren't in the previous region's Dex. While that isn't a guarantee that ZA is going to adhere to it, but I may as well stick to it with my choices.

• Ledian is obvious. It has been pure garbage since it was first introduced and is practically rock bottom among fully-evolved Pokemon.
• Watchog is also obvious. While not as bad as Ledian, it has always been bland at best and lousy at worst.
• Octillery is perfectly functional as is, but to me it screams needing to evolve into a kraken (and also become Water/Fire).
• Beheeyem is there because the aliens need a Mothership.

Mega Evolutions

• Mudsdale is already pretty good as it is, but I could see a Mega of it being based off a Lutin, a character from French mythology who could transform itself into a horse and even turn its hair into locks; Mudsdale already has both of those covered (unless Calyrex already stole that idea).
• Drapion would've been one of my top picks to get a Mega back in XY. It has always seemed to me like the perfect choice to receive one: perfectly solid, but a few steps away from reaching its full potential. A quality Mega would help with that.
• I know Skarmory is a pretty cliche choice, but while I'm not going to cry about it no longer being OU like other people seem to (join the club, it already has dozens of other members), I do think it would be cool to see it get a new (if different) lease on life. Yeah, I want one with triple-digit base Attack and Speed who can actually hit things once in awhile, what of it?

Regional Variants

• Grumpig has pretty much always been one of my top picks to receive a regional variant since the concept was first introduced. All I think is needed to show that (besides how annoying it can be trying to keep up with a myriad of other Gen 3 Psychic-types) is Spoink's various Dex entries talking about how it dies if it stops bouncing or its pearl being the source of its energy. So how about that for a way to finally put Ghost and Rock together?
• Mienshao already gives off some suave French vibes as is; why not take it to the next level with a new variant?
• Luxray could get a variant based on the Eurasian lynx (the largest version of lynx). This one's admittedly harder to justify since I would just like to see Luxray get a regional variant in general.

Regional Evolutions

• Lumineon is another Pokemon I've wanted to see get some sort of toy for a long time now. Mono-Water is boring, its stats are bad, and it's never really stood out in any meaningful way. Despite all of that, I still love this thing (I've mentioned why in previous posts), but even then Lumineon is long overdue for something new. May as well be a regional evolution, since that can (hopefully) patch up its main problems all at once.
• Thievul is about as mediocre as fox mons get, but besides that, Kalos needs a Loup Garou Pokemon. Give this a fresh new type combo, give it an evolution, and mission accomplished.

 

[Pikachu315111]

Pokemon TCG Pocket just had a trailer put up. Most of it is what we kind of expect from it, BUT the last 25 seconds had a bit of a more ominous and possibly mystery concerning the Immersive Artwork cards:

Mewtwo is getting one and it looks like it's escaping from a building. On the outset we get to spin the scene around, see Mewtwo from different angles & all the shards of glass from the window Mewtwo is escaping... BUT it then zooms in behind Mewtwo through the window where we see the interior of the room, details we can't even see in the card art.

With how is abruptly ends with a video distortion effect, it makes me wonder if through the Immersive Artworks they're going to set up some mystery and/or background story for players to discover. Many Immersive Artwork cards could have a secret hidden in the scene, unviewable from the card art, that tells a story or secret about the set. Since the first TCGP set is called "Genetic Apex", makes sense Mewtwo to be involved, and if I had to hazard a guess looks like some some not-quite-legit science experiments are maybe going on...

Of course, what is the end goal of this? Just to tell a story? Neat, and something they would only be able to do with physical cards... BUT (yes, I realize this is my third on), being this is an all digital TCG experience, they could have players who piece together the mystery (or read an online guide) unlock hidden cards (or if that's too gamebreaking, maybe alternate artwork). If Pocket is successful, they could even have future Immersive Cards be used to hint toward future things like the next TCG expansion (both digital and physical) and maybe game related topics such as new Pokemon (to name the obvious).

 

[Volt-Ikazuchi]

The only strange bit is why not just say outright that there will be Z-A news if there is any? If the goal is to gin up views for the rest of the broadcast, you'd surely want to offer the strongest, least ambiguous hook possible, no? Unless, of course, there is nothing on Z-A.

Not really.

Lower expectations have their uses, especially in the long game. Setting the precedent of openly showing the big bait derails the engagement potential of people tuning in for reveals in the future.

It also means that if they do show LZA footage, there will be little expectations that it will be a big trailer. If they just reveal a short teaser with little information, there will be little pushback because it was essentially an unexpected bonus teaser at Worlds.

 

[ant4456]

To be fair, it's not like BDSP was unpolished. It had things that needed to be added in updates, but on release date, that game was in a good state.

It was buggier than the original game by far.

To be fair, if I were to pick a sacrificial lamb, it would be BDSP. Because BDSP was always from inception the least interesting of the three, and it was always going to be that- it was trying to be a Year of Sinnoh aka in corporate speak Piplup advertisement (they tried to make Piplup the next Eevee), and that's about that. Now people forget that it was deliberately the Year of Sinnoh.

If BDSP was 2021, PLA late 2022, SV 2023; that'd have been so much better overall, even if 2021 would still basically be a dud.

Unite also got a more unexpected showcase yesterday about showing the 500 point gamemode coming to global with a revamped map, which is the main game mode of the Chinese (beta) version of the game that plays completely differently.

Wait they did???? I can't find it on Youtube without it being some guy trying to recap it. This is probably part of why this game fell off in the West lol, I am a Unite player and I can't even find the news about the game!

 

[R_N]

Pokemon TCG Pocket just had a trailer put up. Most of it is what we kind of expect from it, BUT the last 25 seconds had a bit of a more ominous and possibly mystery concerning the Immersive Artwork cards:

Mewtwo is getting one and it looks like it's escaping from a building. On the outset we get to spin the scene around, see Mewtwo from different angles & all the shards of glass from the window Mewtwo is escaping... BUT it then zooms in behind Mewtwo through the window where we see the interior of the room, details we can't even see in the card art.

With how is abruptly ends with a video distortion effect, it makes me wonder if through the Immersive Artworks they're going to set up some mystery and/or background story for players to discover. Many Immersive Artwork cards could have a secret hidden in the scene, unviewable from the card art, that tells a story or secret about the set. Since the first TCGP set is called "Genetic Apex", makes sense Mewtwo to be involved, and if I had to hazard a guess looks like some some not-quite-legit science experiments are maybe going on...

Of course, what is the end goal of this? Just to tell a story? Neat, and something they would only be able to do with physical cards... BUT (yes, I realize this is my third on), being this is an all digital TCG experience, they could have players who piece together the mystery (or read an online guide) unlock hidden cards (or if that's too gamebreaking, maybe alternate artwork). If Pocket is successful, they could even have future Immersive Cards be used to hint toward future things like the next TCG expansion (both digital and physical) and maybe game related topics such as new Pokemon (to name the obvious).

I don't think we'll see any "overarching story" so to speak (Especially when the one other immersive art we've seen is just "here is a field of Pokemon in Kanto"). There will probably not be anything super exceptional but you'll probably see the other Pokemon in the mansion.
Ultimately it was shown & cut this way because Mewtwo is cool, escaping the Pokemon mansion is a cool set piece (& opportunity to show off some other Pokemon) and they want you to pull for Mewtwo so you can see it yourself.

 

[Volt-Ikazuchi]

It was buggier than the original game by far.

To be fair, if I were to pick a sacrificial lamb, it would be BDSP. Because BDSP was always from inception the least interesting of the three, and it was always going to be that- it was trying to be a Year of Sinnoh aka in corporate speak Piplup advertisement (they tried to make Piplup the next Eevee), and that's about that. Now people forget that it was deliberately the Year of Sinnoh.

If BDSP was 2021, PLA late 2022, SV 2023; that'd have been so much better overall, even if 2021 would still basically be a dud.


Wait they did???? I can't find it on Youtube without it being some guy trying to recap it. This is probably part of why this game fell off in the West lol, I am a Unite player and I can't even find the news about the game!

No big loss for sure. The main advantage of BDSP is that... It can be modded into something closer to Platinum with a good engine? Yay?

I'm still livid that Hisuian mons weren't added in an update.

 

[doipy hooves]

Notably TCG Pocket preregistrations have also opened and the Apple store has an expected date of October 31 though it probably doesn't mean much yet.

Wait they did???? I can't find it on Youtube without it being some guy trying to recap it. This is probably part of why this game fell off in the West lol, I am a Unite player and I can't even find the news about the game!

I don't think it was really mentioned elsewhere officially yet other than the trailer and showcase at the end of the day 1 Worlds stream (with the showcase being shown instead of the last tournament match happening at the same time) and the Japanese twitter confirming it's a casual mode. The showcase itself was kind of strange too with how they had to play on the Chinese version with exclusive move changes and items, I'm inclined to believe that global will just get the mode and not the rest of the changes though.

 

[Yung Dramps]

Pokemon TCG Pocket just had a trailer put up. Most of it is what we kind of expect from it, BUT the last 25 seconds had a bit of a more ominous and possibly mystery concerning the Immersive Artwork cards:

Mewtwo is getting one and it looks like it's escaping from a building. On the outset we get to spin the scene around, see Mewtwo from different angles & all the shards of glass from the window Mewtwo is escaping... BUT it then zooms in behind Mewtwo through the window where we see the interior of the room, details we can't even see in the card art.

With how is abruptly ends with a video distortion effect, it makes me wonder if through the Immersive Artworks they're going to set up some mystery and/or background story for players to discover. Many Immersive Artwork cards could have a secret hidden in the scene, unviewable from the card art, that tells a story or secret about the set. Since the first TCGP set is called "Genetic Apex", makes sense Mewtwo to be involved, and if I had to hazard a guess looks like some some not-quite-legit science experiments are maybe going on...

Of course, what is the end goal of this? Just to tell a story? Neat, and something they would only be able to do with physical cards... BUT (yes, I realize this is my third on), being this is an all digital TCG experience, they could have players who piece together the mystery (or read an online guide) unlock hidden cards (or if that's too gamebreaking, maybe alternate artwork). If Pocket is successful, they could even have future Immersive Cards be used to hint toward future things like the next TCG expansion (both digital and physical) and maybe game related topics such as new Pokemon (to name the obvious).

So what do we have left at this point for theoretical non-Z-A news options for the closing ceremony? Dynamax in Go and...?

Either way my odds for something about that game being shown have gone up from 10-20% to 30-40%

 

[Pikachu315111]

One could argue PLA needed more time in the oven because those textures are borderline unacceptable, but if I think about a game that absolutely NEEDED extra dev time, I think about SV. That game is almost RBY-tier messy. No hate though, I appreciate the ambition.

I wonder if PLA's graphics problem may stem them having, at least originally, wanting to do a more stylized Japanese calligraphy style. Obviously the PLA we got decided to lean in more on a "modern" style, though if that was a decision made somewhere in the middle of development when the stylized art style wasn't working out could explain the textures.

But SV has no excuse. I'm hoping with it and all the bugs that it had it's finally ending the practice of having a core series game out every year for good.

The only strange bit is why not just say outright that there will be Z-A news if there is any?

Because Game Freak is gonna Game Freak. If they can have a super surprise factor on something they know a majority of people are going to watch, I wouldn't be surprised if they took it. Because they can take for granted that most everyone is excited for PLZA, they don't really need to hype up a trailer for it.

The main advantage of BDSP is that...

... They could say they did the Gen 4 remakes when GF were truly interested in just Legends. That's all BDSP was... in addition to being a sacrificial lamb by GF to make themselves look like the only ones who can make Pokemon games by purposely sabotaging things via a kiddy art style, not allowing for new character designs, and a strict adherence to vanilla DP with very little from the better Platinum.

Dynamax in Go and...?

Cafe ReMix, duh.

 

[Samtendo09]

Might as well lock it again, nothing from Z-A might be coming.

I didn’t watched the whole shiding but I don’t have much expectation from it anyways.

 

[ant4456]

Notably TCG Pocket preregistrations have also opened and the Apple store has an expected date of October 31 though it probably doesn't mean much yet.


I don't think it was really mentioned elsewhere officially yet other than the trailer and showcase at the end of the day 1 Worlds stream (with the showcase being shown instead of the last tournament match happening at the same time) and the Japanese twitter confirming it's a casual mode. The showcase itself was kind of strange too with how they had to play on the Chinese version with exclusive move changes and items, I'm inclined to believe that global will just get the mode and not the rest of the changes though.

Why is it a casual mode

It's literally more in line with League of Legends and it doesn't have a timer

 

[bdt2002]

This has nothing to do with the announcements at all (i.e., the only part anyone actually cares about) but lmao that might have been the worst sell/choke I’ve seen since the 2014-15 Super Bowl, and that’s coming from a Seahawks fan Bro really thought he could click a super effective move on the dude’s win condition even though he knew the other Pokémon was a redirector

For real, though, where are the announcements, I can absolutely see thousands of fans getting their hopes up all night for nothing exciting

 

[ant4456]

For real, though, where are the announcements, I can absolutely see thousands of fans getting their hopes up all night for nothing exciting

if you think going one pokemon event without a mainline series announcement is bad, imagine being me, whose favorite game of all-time is Hollow Knight

i think the fans will live

 

[ant4456]

So what do we have left at this point for theoretical non-Z-A news options for the closing ceremony? Dynamax in Go and...?

Either way my odds for something about that game being shown have gone up from 10-20% to 30-40%

the only non gen 1 pokemon that arent blurred out are fucking greninja and gardevoir if this game LIKE POKEMON GO RELEASES AS KANTO ONLY OR 90% KANTO I AM ACTUALLY GOING TO SCREEEAM

my fuck-kanto DNA is making me react like Samus to fucking Raven Beak holy SHIT

NOT EVEN A POST GEN 1 EEVEE IS ALLOWED??

also why does EVERY modern pokemon game trailer have some like apple ass beat + people going nanananana

non-gen 1 pokemon i see in this trailer (list will be edited):

gardevoir
greninja
whimsicott (blurred out)
mienfoo (at the bottom stack of the cards)

i cant tell any others here so lmk if you see some more but oh my god this is 98% kanto

 

[MC Squared]

NO LEGENDS Z-A INFORMATION IT'S ZAOVER

 

[R_N]

While Z-A is by no means confirmed to be here, there is 0 reason to expect Masters to be present at this. Worlds announcements tend to focus on, you know, the stuff at worlds. Last year, for example, they showed off Paradox Pokemon in the TCG, Meowscarada/Blaziken/Mimikyu coming to Unite and of course the trailer that showed off new "competitive" moves and pokemon for the DLC.

Masters, even ignoring that it already announced its celebration stuff separately, is just...not even remotely in this wheel-house. It's in its own mobile house with Sleep and Cafe


Things I think would be more likely, though itself not guaranteed:
-New characters for Unite. I believe the test server already tells us what those will be, but shhh. It's a surprise. Act surprised.
-For the TCG, since Pocket was demoed at the show floor they could announce a proper release date or at least when beta might start.
-Alternatively, if they want to keep it to the "proper" TCG we know "Owner's Pokemon" are coming back, which feels like something they could spin as its own mechanic this go around. That puts it in a similar vibe to announcing Tag Teams, ex's, paradoxes, etc.. They could also tease the return of Mega Evolution but we're still several sets from those being relevant, regardless of when Z-A comes out.
-Go wasn't at last years and generally doesn't get "big" announcements. Last year's bigger announcement (Paldean Pokemon) already got rolled into the Presents proper. But we know Dynamax is like really imminent and would be a significant new feature, especially if they tied it to the roll out of Gen 8 Pokemon. Seems a good a time as any to announce it here
-It's honestly kind of hard to gauge how they'll talk about Z-A, especially since it wont be relevant for competitive at all. 2018 I think didn't have anything notable about Let's Go, but I guess there also wasn't really anything to talk about. BDSP & L:A didn't have a Worlds to even begin to be snubbed at. Personally I feel like the first actual footage of the game would probably want a proper presentation...I think if we hear anything about Z-A, it might be more akin to a date of when more information will drop.

Folks pick up the phone because I called it

 

[Yung Dramps]

NO LEGENDS Z-A INFORMATION IT'S ZAOVER

Wrong reaction. This is a good thing! They're taking their time!

IT'S ONLY JUST ZGUN

 

[MC Squared]

Wrong reaction. This is a good thing! They're taking their time!

IT'S ONLY JUST ZGUN

Two more years of Gen 9 VGC! Hope they do a Mythical meta

 

[Volt-Ikazuchi]

Oh well. See you next time this thread opens.

 

[Jungle cruiser]

We got a new trailer for a game in which pikachu goes into the real world and starts electrocuting people called "San Diego 2026"! I don't think I'm gonna buy it ngl.

Also no legends za stuff :(

 

[MC Squared]

We got a new trailer for a game in which pikachu goes into the real world and starts electrocuting people called "San Diego 2026"! I don't think I'm gonna buy it ngl.

Also no legends za stuff :(

California eating good with back to back Worlds

 

[bdt2002]

No Pokémon Legends Z-A news is honestly probably a good thing. Let Pokémon fans experience the Metroid Prime 4 treatment where your game becomes irrelevant due to lack of advertising only to drop something completely different out of nowhere that ends up being far more popular and successful than the game people were actually expecting.

Now’s as good of a time as any to state what I hope eventually becomes obvious to the general public. Legends Z-A might be one of the biggest market failures of the Game Freak designed games we’ve seen in a very long time… on the current Switch. Watch this not only be a Metroid Prime 4 situation, but also a Breath of the Wild situation where well over 90% of your sales come from the fancy next-gen console barely anyone could afford/find at launch.

 

[ant4456]

I just did a Google search it's a Hollow Knight expansion LOL

It's a full sequel, not an expansion, but yeah to be real for a second I think Pokemon fans are immensely spoiled for thinking 6 months is some insane wait for something.

The most realistic time we see Pokemon is either a glimpse in the September/October/November Switch 2 announcement trailer (the Switch 1 trailer showed plenty of unannounced games), or February 2025. I'm sorry, but it's true yall.

Learn from me, a Pikmin Hollow Knight fan, a year isn't gonna kill us. I wanna see it too but its fine

I'm betting February 2025 rereveal + late 2025 release date.

 

[bdt2002]

I just did a Google search it's a Hollow Knight expansion LOL

Hollow Knight and by extension Silksong must be pretty good if we’re having more fun talking about that than Pokémon in this thread right now

This slap-happy, sarcastic version of me you’re all seeing in these last few posts is me when I’m tired and want to go to bed. I’ll apologize to you but not the corporate Pokémon Company for my attitude if you guys are getting tired of this. Good night, everyone. I’m going to bed. I already said that, didn’t I…?

but yeah to be real for a second I think Pokemon fans are immensely spoiled for thinking 6 months is some insane wait for something.

Okay, I promise this is my last post. For real this time. I wasn’t joking when I said Hollow Knight and/or Silksong must be good games worth waiting for. Buuuuut I think there’s an argument to be made that not all Pokémon fans are like this. I mean I’ve been waiting for another Ranger game for over a decade, where’s my patience award