Cast your mind back to the world before the internet.
Well, not really before the internet, but rather, to before you were old and tech savvy
enough to use this wondrous tool to suck all the fun out of Pokemon.
Remember what it was like when you first discovered the world of Pocket Monsters.
When every episode of the cartoon series introduced you to a wonderful new friend.
When peeling back the foil on a fresh packet of cards brought ten or eleven tiny slices
of beautiful artwork, and the excitement of discovering a shiny new rarity to add to your
collection.
Rumors circulated on the playground about how to catch 'em all.
Depending on the era in which you first became aware of Pokemon, you might have heard of
a secret truck near the SS Anne, or of the all-powerful Pokegods, or of Pikablu, or MissingNo.
You might have heard that there was some way to blast into space to capture Deoxys, or
that a strange creature named Rotom lived in an abandoned mansion.
Some of these rumors were true, and some were not.
It didn't necessarily matter – all fed the urban myths surrounding this game series,
and made the world of Pokemon feel tangible and immediate.
Who knew what lurked out there in the wild woods and fields?
All you could be certain of, was that there were plenty more mysteries to be uncovered.
But, then, you became aware of the internet, and suddenly, that which was once obscure
and uncertain became disappointingly concrete.
The creators of the Pokemon games have always found it difficult to keep up with the internet.
They've always tried their best to inject a sense of uncertainty into their games, but
alas, the world's largest information network is just too good at spreading knowledge.
Even, and indeed, especially, knowledge that is better left unspoiled.
Maybe a certain Pokemon is only available at certain times of the day, or on certain
days of the week.
Maybe it's only present on select, randomly chosen tiles within the overworld, its location
inexplicably tied to a trendy phrase that's been picked by islanders who live on the other
side of the world.
Or maybe, a Pokemon isn't present in the game at all, and can only be obtained through
a special download event.
No matter what, earnest Pokemaniacs find these hidden secrets.
They pore through the game's code, unlocking all its wonders, so that a week or so after
the release of any main series Pokemon game, it's possible to visit Bulbapedia and learn
everything you ever wanted to know – and more – about what secrets await you in a
particular game.
If you're anything like me, you might have at first found the internet to be a very useful
tool, before eventually getting tired of just how boring it makes the process of Pokemon
hunting.
Especially when, in order to keep up with the internet's ability to unpack and scrutinize
the Pokemon world, Game Freak has simply resorted to making Pokemon training more tedious.
I honestly think the world would be a better place if nobody understood what an IV or an
EV is, or how pokeball capture rates work.
But then comes Meltan, and for the first time in decades, I'm genuinely filled with a
childhood sense of wonder and curiosity about what's coming next.
Many Pokemon have been introduced to us in an unorthodox fashion, particularly through
the anime series.
If you're old enough to remember the first series of the show when it was new, you were
aware of Togepi long before the Pokemon was ever available to catch and train.
The same goes for Ho-Oh, Snubbull, and the amazing scene at the start of the first movie
when Bulbasaur fights a Donphan, and we all shouted in the excitement of seeing such a
cool new Pokemon in action.
Then, there was Bonsly, who appeared in a cameo role in Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness,
a generation before it could be caught in a game.
These fun Pokemon reveals have always caught the public imagination, because they help
to hint at an even larger world that is still full of mystery.
But Meltan is something new.
For the first time ever, Pokemon trainers stumbled upon a mysterious creature that had
no name and no explanation.
What was this thing?
Was it a glitch?
Or a brand new pocket monster that had yet to be revealed?
Eventually, it was revealed that Meltan was here to stay, and suddenly a series of urban
legends became canon.
It was one of those rare moments in gaming where fan theories actually proved to be true.
I love this.
I love that Pokemon Go is such a fantastic breeding ground for these kinds of stories.
Back when this game first arrived, we all rushed around, eager to catch as many Pokemon
as we could.
But nobody involved with the game seemed particularly interested in explaining what we had to do.
I remember rushing around a park with a friend, trying to figure out how to even trigger a
Pokemon encounter, unable to even understand how to interpret the information on the screen
before me.
What did these footprints mean?
Where did I need to go?
What were Pokestops, and how was I supposed to interact with them?
Pokemon Go's design back then was frustrating in its obscure vagary, but it also helped
to create a sense of wonder and awe.
Fellow players would share tips and tricks about how to find certain creatures, both
online and in the real world.
If you'd just spotted a rare Clefairy, you'd tell random strangers where to go in order
to find one for themselves.
I am so pleased that this sense of mystery is returning to Pokemon.
The benefit of an MMO that's set in this world is that new mystery elements can be
added with each update, so we didn't instantly learn everything about the game within five
minutes of its release.
This means that Niantic can slip in a new Pokemon like Meltan without anyone being any
the wise, until the specific time that it is meant to be revealed.
Now, I'll be honest, I don't play Pokemon Go anymore.
Our household enjoyed one wonderful summer playing the game (it really was the highlight
of the otherwise miserable 2016), but eventually, we put it down and didn't return.
Part of this was because the weather got cold.
More importantly, though, I'd burned through my phone battery so fast, so often, that it
was starting to get a lot less use out of every charge.
I just couldn't justify wearing out my device in the hopes of catching a Pikachu (which
I never managed).
Also, I accidently mulched my prize Lapras, named Ludo, into candy.
I'll never forget you, sleep well sweet prince.
But just as I've never played much EVE Online but I enjoy hearing stories of player exploits,
I consider Pokemon GO a fantastic spectator sport.
I love hearing the rumors and secrets and urban myths that spring up around the game,
and the mystery surrounding Meltan was particularly exciting.
I can only hope that Game Freak continues to use the game to bring us new innovations
within the Pokemon world.
These kinds of cultural talking points are what make the game feel surprising and genuinely
immersive.
Because, for better or worse, we all live in a Pokemon world.
You or I will never be the greatest master of them all, but nonetheless, it's fun to
try.
Urban myths like Meltan are what make this quest truly worth the effort.
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