Tag Archives: Editorial

Is the Pokémon GO’s Snap Celebration Event Broken? My Hopes for May Events…

29 Apr

pokemon-go-logoBy Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Taking part in these back-to-back Pokémon GO events can be exhausting. Not everyone has to participate, but they do anyways. Part of the reason is that most long-time players want mega candies for specific ‘mons as spawn rates are increased for a few days. I’m after more Magikarp candy myself. They help evolve the lil’ beasts beyond level 40.

The only aspect of the game which keeps me going are the weekly special event completion quests. The rewards are decent. This week’s celebration of the release of Pokémon Snap for the Nintendo Switch is okay at best, and the one-time special field research tasks are incredibly broken. It’s easy to photograph the same wild beast over and over to breeze through the tasks. There’s nothing unique to “photographing” your ‘mon with the real surroundings, other than to post on it twitter with the #gosnapshot hashtag that you’re is participating in this four-day event. The purpose is more about showing off your trophies and so far, all I got was a shiny Lotad. I’ve done a lot of photos of wild pokémon and only had one Smergle show up out of 60 or so snapshots. The rate seems better after random creatures are caught though. It’s hilarious that I can recursively photograph this artist and get another appearing on top over and over. 

In a world that is supposed to be in lockdown because of the third wave of covid-19 cases, we shouldn’t be encouraged to leave home and find these pocket monsters. Technically, it can all be avoided since parks and outdoor spaces allow for distancing. 

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Comic Cons, Concerts and Concerns in the Midst of a Continuing Pandemic

18 Feb

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Usually around this time, I’d be planning (or have attended) a pop culture convention by now. Emerald City Comic Con may run their 2021 event at the end of the year, but by then, are we sure it’ll happen when information of COVID-19 variants is the new concern? We’re in a pandemic, and although a vaccine is available, it’s not guaranteed to completely placate the virus. LiveScience published an article explaining how they work. People can still be carriers and not show any symptoms.

Plus, not everyone are able to get the shot right away. The rollout will target particular public health sectors first, before the public, and most regular joes–the fandom–is last in line. Changes to these events are expected because any show that doesn’t incorporate safety measures as a precaution is not only hazardous to everyone’s health but also a breeding ground for another wave.

As much as I like to resume that life of an avid con goer in a normally busy month of March, I don’t see myself feeling comfortable being at one unless these events invest in “the new norm” which includes plexiglass barriers to put between fans, dealers and guests along with many sanitizing stations. Whether that’s with ultraviolet portals to pass through or a table with cleansing dispensers, it won’t be enough. The shows that want to take place sooner than later may include waivers for everyone to impress their fingerprint upon so that the company can’t be sued if an attendee gets sick.

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How Pokémon GO Can Be Improved & Community Day Afterthoughts

17 Jan

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Updated: Jan 28th, 2021

Pokémon GO is off to a good start this new year. I’m playing a lot more because the first Community Day with Machop and triple stardust for every critter caught is exactly what I wanted. Toss on a Star Piece, and I was swimming in powder after playing for the full five hours. Hopefully, these types of triple offerings will pop up a touch more often.

But as for the augmented reality part of this game, I still keep the camera off. The feature still struggles with knowing the difference between three-dimensional objects, a wall and the floor. It’d be cool to see a Pikachu around the corner, and the player has to slightly chase after it in order to catch, but the various surface detection algorithms don’t work that way. This feature was supposed to roll out late last year, according to engadget, but it seems very little progress has been made. I’ve tested the option on an iPad Mini 5 and Samsung S20 FE. On both, the critter thought the curtain was a flat horizon surface–whoops!

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Spider-Man in the Multiverse Fan Theories and Live Action?

15 Dec

By Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

Spider-Man will face his greatest challenge as the live-action multiverse is confirmed! Fans of Sony’s franchise got a tease with Into the Spider-Verse in 2018, and since then, just what’s next is anyone’s guess. Early last week, Variety reported about Alfred Molina (Doctor Ock) making a return. On the list includes Jamie Foxx (Electro) and all I can think of is: Sinister Six! We’ve seen The Vulture, Rhino and Sandman in past versions of the trilogy, but will they appear? The next film is only in the planning/screen-writing phase.

Over on Skynews, the report about Andrew Garfield, Kirsten Dunst and Emma Stone also appearing is as exciting. All we need is the negotiations to bring Tobey Maguire to go well, otherwise script revisions may be in order.

It’s hard to say if the other Spider-Mans from the other universes–the past two trilogies–will play throughout the movie or they are here for a bit part. The screenplay is still being worked on. However, when compared to the television Crisis of Infinite Earths crossover on TheCW, I’m hoping they get over 10-15 minutes of screen time.

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On How to Expand HBO’s Lovecraft Country

3 Nov

Lovecraft Country (TV series).jpgBy Ed Sum
(The Vintage Tempest)

HBO’s Lovecraft Country needs another season! For the Halloween weekend, I had a chance to rewatch the series and wonder if Atticus (Jonathan Majors), the series protagonist, and Christina Braithwhite (Abbey Lee), the antagonist will return. It’s highly possible to have them in flashbacks, but I’d rather not have them back as ghosts. I expect Letita to take charge. The Re-animator is not what this series needs. The only hit and miss elements are with the strange tech going on and time travel. Hippolyta’s hopping into different eras and doing good for her people is an inspiration, but it’s unlikely a spinoff series will ever happen.

I’d love to see the Mi-Go because the series is alluding to it. These fungus-like creatures with an insectoid-like body with bat wings. These aliens are highly specialized in matters of technology and biology. Longtime Lovecraft aficionados are familiar with their ability to dissect a human and keep them functional in steel vats. It’d be of no surprise that they gave Diana her arm, but we’ll never know the full story. All fans have to go on is the fact Seamus Lancaster cast a spell on her, and the curse affected her senses.

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