This is being made in the form of a Q&A because yeah like sure.
If you were a Gym leader what would your type and ace be?
So I really have come to the conclusion that I am a normal type lover. I used to think this was basic but actually they are kinda the underdogs and also the cuties. The zigzagoon lines, Munch and Snor laxes, Whismur is fucking adorable and Loudred is absolute Freak™. That being said, my ace has to be Maushold because they're so adorable. I think it would be the 4 maus family even though the 3 maus family is more rare. The more Maushold the better.
If you could make one change to the Pokémon games formula what would it be?
We gotta make Gym Leaders have multiple teams dependent on badge count if we're gonna continue with open world games (which I think we SHOULD). It's codified in some of the animated shows but we gotta bring it to the game. I was so sad I couldn't actually explore the different areas of the open world in Scarlet/Violet. That being said, I think it makes sense for differnt wild areas to have different levels and to use higher levels as barriers for exploration or implying the story path. I also think that multiple "quests" should continue, idk if how explicit it was laid out in Scar/Vi was the way it should be all the time but I think this allows for some paths to have a difficulty curve built linearly and some built non-linearly. Maybe there could even be a goal that is very sandbox-like and...bring back concerts!!! I've gone off the rails hard here and said several ideas now. I think we have to move on.
Pokémon side games..........thoughts?
The Ranger series is simply incredible. What if instead of having to only be friends with 6 Pokémon you could be a little bit friends with all of them at different times. What if I could spread my love and care as wide as possible across the beautifully small maps with wonderful exploration. Just watched killer video about how the ranger series should be borrowing ideas from Metroidvanias and I am in strong agreement!
I also grew up playing the Colosseum and XD games for the GameCube. I am very nostalgic for them and love them a lot but I do remember feeling what a slog they could be even as a kid at home on a sick day. That being said, the focus on double battles is something I loved! (Ironically, I have yet to find the executive function to play the Blueberry Academy DLC for Scar/Vi even though I've come to understand that it does have a double battle focus. One of these days, I suppose.) Additionally it was the first game to have you with Eevee as your starter and SOMEHOW it's STILL the only one that lets you EVOLVE YOUR EEVEE. YOU KNOW IT'S WHOLE DESIGN PURPOSE! WOULDN'T IT BE FUCKING CRAZY IF THEY MADE A GAME WHERE YOU HAD AN EEVEE AND COULDN'T FUCKING EVOLVE IT. ahem Anyhow, the Let's Go sereies does not excite me.
Uh is Legends Arceus a side game? I feel like it's got this weird reputation as a main and side game. I liked it okay, still haven't finished it but found it pretty fun. I think to some degree I feel excited about it as a test or demo for the model of future games like it. I do love that AS OF POSTING TIME there is like no info on Legends ZA. Just as it should be.
If you were to make your own Pokémon TV series what would it be about/focus on?
I have 2 ideas: 1) A Pokémon Ranger centered story. Elements of workplace comedy and elements of slice of life. Found family and quaint community vibes. 2) A Pokémon professor in professor university/school journeys to discover what their specialty/focus will be.
The first one I think is cute and plays off the themes I love about Rangers and I'd love to use a lot of the world building from Shadows of Almia. For some reason having the ranger school and other elements just really brought the position to life. I like the idea of caretakers assisting communities and it being from people from that community. Maybe a few transplants but isn't that life for some folks, plus they become part of the community. The second is something I think would align more with the journey focus that a lot of animated Pokémon shows have. Additionally I think the feeling of having your future rush at you while you're in the final period before being let go into the wider world is a feeling I'd like to channel while writing. Feels like an excuse to psychoanalyze my junior and senior year of college.