Post by The R.S. on May 24, 2009 17:59:28 GMT -5
I said that I would go and I did, kicked some butt (had mine kicked a bit in return), got some goodies, photos, and more. This is the full report on how my first championship debut was. When there are photos to be show, I'll put them between >> << as text to help save space and those with low bandwidth.
I went to Phoenix, Arizona the previous day and stayed with my aunt up there for the night. I went to sleep around 11:30, woke up at 5:30 and got ready. I arrived at the Phoenix Convention Center at around 7:30 that morning, only to learn the time they began Senior Division sign-ups was changed to 8:30. However, I knew I was the right place by the signs they had up, the giant, inflatable >>Dialga<<, >>Palkia<<, and >>Giratina<< scattered about, and the loads of people there with Pokémon T-shirts on or an Ash Ketchum hat, but sadly no full-blown cosplayers..
Shortly before the doors opened for senior sign-up, the crowd was greeted by four friendly faces, that being >>Turtwig<<, >>Chimchar<<, >>Piplup<<, and of course >>Pikachu<<.
Once the doors did open, what awaited inside was rather fun (for Pokémon fans). You first notice the three >>Shinnoh Starters<< upfront. but looming above where >>the battles<< would be >>taking place<<, there was >>the largest Pikachu I've ever seen<<. There were also some >>TV displays<< that showed the rules (and later live feed of battles). The was also the stand for the ever heard of >>free shiny Milotic<<, as well as a >>well cushioned<< are known as the >>Finalists Lounge<<. But around 10 o'clock, somebody fucked something up which made a large part of the displays >>come tumbling down<<; I lol'd.
When you go to actually sign up for the tournament, they >>give you a wristband<< with a Pokémon's number and name on it; I was #105 Marowak. They use this method to randomly draw people at random if they have over 128 people signing up. Luckily, when they announced the numbers that would get to contend, >>my number was called<<. I lucked out here since over 300 people came and over 200 were denied the chance to even enter. I then went back to the counter and got my >>competitor wristband and my >>tournament card (hi, that's my name).
My first opponent was a kid younger than me who I simply call >>Iggy<< because that was the name of his trainer. We approached >>our battle stations<< that were fitted out with >>specially modified DS Lite systems<<. We started our battle and I was able to >>defeat him << easily with my Double Baton Pass idea, advancing to the second round. However, I didn't get so lucky the next time about as I went up against a guy older than me who made mincemeat out of me like I did to Iggy before. I didn't get a photo of the guy since I spaced, but I think he went to be one of the final four. I made two mistakes in our battle where I didn't use my Shuckle to use the guy's Trick Room against him and not using Substitute in the first round with my Ninjask, being hit by an early Rock Slide.
Through the rest of the day, I didn't take many more pictures. I did receive my free shiny Milotic as promised (I'll get a screenshot later) and got a few other things like temporary tattoos and a >>Pokémon themed skin for my DS Lite<<. After that, I did battle with a number of other people there in an out of tourney battle, many won, some lost, proving that I really wasn't that bad (just got dumb luck in the second round). I stuck around and watched the rest of the Senior division and the Junior division fight.
When the day was rounding off, I managed to touch base with an authority of the Pokémon battling world that I'm sure most of you heard of. His name is Devin, but much more widely known as >>Marriland<<. He was there that day as a VIP Judge for the event and was quite lucky to get him to >>autograph my DSi<< (in a handwriting way too similar to mine).
I managed to pull Marriland away from the hustle and bussle for just a couple of minutes and interviewed him on just a few basic questions. This interview is not word-for-word since I didn't expect him to be there, thus not ready to write it all down and must depend on my crappy memory for it.
The R.S.: When did you exactly start to play Pokémon?
Marriland: Hmm... I'd say roughly around 1998 or 1999, though I did know of it a longer time before then.
The R.S.: Out of all of the Pokémon that are out right now, which one would you say would be your favorite?
Marriland: I would have to say it would be Chansey.
The R.S.: Any reason as to why?
Marriland: I happen to find it to be a very. very lucky Pokémon.
The R.S.: Would the Lucky Egg item it might sometimes hold be anything part of this luck?
Marriland: Ha! Yeah, that would be part of it. But even so, I've always found it to be just lucky.
The R.S.: Okay, the next question... whenever you start a new Pokémon game, what type do you usually start with?
Marriland: Hmm... hard to say, but I would have to say the fire type. When I played Gold, I chose a Cyndaquil and in the third games, I went for Torchic. I just happen to find the fire types to be very handy as a starter Pokémon.
The R.S.: Alrighty, now the last question: out of the newest generation of Pokémon, which one would you say is your personal favorite and why?
Marriland: Oh, that would be Buizel. I think the little guy is rather cute and I like how he always tries to act in the anime. Buizel always tries to act like a tough guy, even when the going gets tough.
And that's the basic idea of how the interview with Marriland went. We shook hands a few times, but I will say it was a little tricky to let me interview him since I said if I could "interview you for my website". He must've thought something more like IGN and bigger questions, but when he learned it was real basic Pokémon stuff and my site was just this dinky ProBoards forum, he said sure since it didn't really have to worry about legal stuff.
But in the end, the Pokémon Video Game Championships was a blast! It makes me want to go for next year. I had a good idea of where I stood in battling before and I'd like to try to attend next year as well. When I do, I'm going in with a better team and going to try aiming much, much higher this time. I reached my simple goal of not being KOed in the first round but next year, my goal will be set higher.
...oh. And my battle against Iggy? I saved it onto my Battle Recorder. It is a shame that there was no open Wi-Fi there, or else I would've saved it, uploaded it, and saved more. I was limited to only one battle being saved, so I kept the one I won in the tournament. If you want to view it, this is the battle video number.
48-51073-05893
I went to Phoenix, Arizona the previous day and stayed with my aunt up there for the night. I went to sleep around 11:30, woke up at 5:30 and got ready. I arrived at the Phoenix Convention Center at around 7:30 that morning, only to learn the time they began Senior Division sign-ups was changed to 8:30. However, I knew I was the right place by the signs they had up, the giant, inflatable >>Dialga<<, >>Palkia<<, and >>Giratina<< scattered about, and the loads of people there with Pokémon T-shirts on or an Ash Ketchum hat, but sadly no full-blown cosplayers..
Shortly before the doors opened for senior sign-up, the crowd was greeted by four friendly faces, that being >>Turtwig<<, >>Chimchar<<, >>Piplup<<, and of course >>Pikachu<<.
Once the doors did open, what awaited inside was rather fun (for Pokémon fans). You first notice the three >>Shinnoh Starters<< upfront. but looming above where >>the battles<< would be >>taking place<<, there was >>the largest Pikachu I've ever seen<<. There were also some >>TV displays<< that showed the rules (and later live feed of battles). The was also the stand for the ever heard of >>free shiny Milotic<<, as well as a >>well cushioned<< are known as the >>Finalists Lounge<<. But around 10 o'clock, somebody fucked something up which made a large part of the displays >>come tumbling down<<; I lol'd.
When you go to actually sign up for the tournament, they >>give you a wristband<< with a Pokémon's number and name on it; I was #105 Marowak. They use this method to randomly draw people at random if they have over 128 people signing up. Luckily, when they announced the numbers that would get to contend, >>my number was called<<. I lucked out here since over 300 people came and over 200 were denied the chance to even enter. I then went back to the counter and got my >>competitor wristband and my >>tournament card (hi, that's my name).
My first opponent was a kid younger than me who I simply call >>Iggy<< because that was the name of his trainer. We approached >>our battle stations<< that were fitted out with >>specially modified DS Lite systems<<. We started our battle and I was able to >>defeat him << easily with my Double Baton Pass idea, advancing to the second round. However, I didn't get so lucky the next time about as I went up against a guy older than me who made mincemeat out of me like I did to Iggy before. I didn't get a photo of the guy since I spaced, but I think he went to be one of the final four. I made two mistakes in our battle where I didn't use my Shuckle to use the guy's Trick Room against him and not using Substitute in the first round with my Ninjask, being hit by an early Rock Slide.
Through the rest of the day, I didn't take many more pictures. I did receive my free shiny Milotic as promised (I'll get a screenshot later) and got a few other things like temporary tattoos and a >>Pokémon themed skin for my DS Lite<<. After that, I did battle with a number of other people there in an out of tourney battle, many won, some lost, proving that I really wasn't that bad (just got dumb luck in the second round). I stuck around and watched the rest of the Senior division and the Junior division fight.
When the day was rounding off, I managed to touch base with an authority of the Pokémon battling world that I'm sure most of you heard of. His name is Devin, but much more widely known as >>Marriland<<. He was there that day as a VIP Judge for the event and was quite lucky to get him to >>autograph my DSi<< (in a handwriting way too similar to mine).
I managed to pull Marriland away from the hustle and bussle for just a couple of minutes and interviewed him on just a few basic questions. This interview is not word-for-word since I didn't expect him to be there, thus not ready to write it all down and must depend on my crappy memory for it.
The R.S.: When did you exactly start to play Pokémon?
Marriland: Hmm... I'd say roughly around 1998 or 1999, though I did know of it a longer time before then.
The R.S.: Out of all of the Pokémon that are out right now, which one would you say would be your favorite?
Marriland: I would have to say it would be Chansey.
The R.S.: Any reason as to why?
Marriland: I happen to find it to be a very. very lucky Pokémon.
The R.S.: Would the Lucky Egg item it might sometimes hold be anything part of this luck?
Marriland: Ha! Yeah, that would be part of it. But even so, I've always found it to be just lucky.
The R.S.: Okay, the next question... whenever you start a new Pokémon game, what type do you usually start with?
Marriland: Hmm... hard to say, but I would have to say the fire type. When I played Gold, I chose a Cyndaquil and in the third games, I went for Torchic. I just happen to find the fire types to be very handy as a starter Pokémon.
The R.S.: Alrighty, now the last question: out of the newest generation of Pokémon, which one would you say is your personal favorite and why?
Marriland: Oh, that would be Buizel. I think the little guy is rather cute and I like how he always tries to act in the anime. Buizel always tries to act like a tough guy, even when the going gets tough.
And that's the basic idea of how the interview with Marriland went. We shook hands a few times, but I will say it was a little tricky to let me interview him since I said if I could "interview you for my website". He must've thought something more like IGN and bigger questions, but when he learned it was real basic Pokémon stuff and my site was just this dinky ProBoards forum, he said sure since it didn't really have to worry about legal stuff.
But in the end, the Pokémon Video Game Championships was a blast! It makes me want to go for next year. I had a good idea of where I stood in battling before and I'd like to try to attend next year as well. When I do, I'm going in with a better team and going to try aiming much, much higher this time. I reached my simple goal of not being KOed in the first round but next year, my goal will be set higher.
...oh. And my battle against Iggy? I saved it onto my Battle Recorder. It is a shame that there was no open Wi-Fi there, or else I would've saved it, uploaded it, and saved more. I was limited to only one battle being saved, so I kept the one I won in the tournament. If you want to view it, this is the battle video number.
48-51073-05893
So it was single elimation and you got beat out by some tough guy, huh?