Hiatus Ends

It's been quite awhile since I last posted a blog here, and that is largely because I decided to end my career as a Pokemon Webmaster. From the constant drama to the lack of innovation in the fandom, I had for all intended purposes left for good. That was my belief anyways for the past two years as I had finished high-school, gone onto university, and become a more well-rounded individual.

So now what? I am returning to the fandom as a more mature individual that is looking to once again recreate a Pokemon mega-site out of nothing. I have a new approach I wish to try, along with a reassembled team that have largely been out of scene for as long (if not longer) than even I. So with a new staff ranging from my days at Pokemon706, TotalPokemon/Shinou, and PokeWizards I am hoping to blend an old-school team with new-age ideas.

This is the only the beginning, as I have plans to copy this format into other genres if it proves successful. As always I will be working inside a room of doubters and naysayers, but as history will once again prove I can make a mega-site out of nothing.

I offer an olive branch to all those in the past I have come at odds with, and it is my hopes that after two years those individuals will have matured enough themselves to begin our relationships anew. I hope they will meet me half-way and stop living in the past, but if they choose to cling to their old-ways then that is their choice, but they will miss great oppurtunities.

godspeed.

It's Been a Year!

Wow,

I have not blogged or really communicated my feelings on the Community in quite some time. Be it a little more than a year, I have switched my focus from crushing rivals in Pokemans (I spelled it wrong for effect), and begun my work towards my professional career at University.

Returning to the Pokemon Community, I quickly noticed how much things have changed since I went on my self-given hiatus. Most of my former rivals and enemies are not defunct and have closed up shop. Pokemon sites I once wondered if I would ever see the end of, have in fact closed. This however does not surprise me at all, as the same chain-of-events happened following the aftermath of the release of Gold/Silver and Ruby/Sapphire.

Yet one of my more familiar pricks in my side, PokeCommunity has still weathered the storm and have held on for survival. While I still dislike the Administration (oh the irony, as TotalPokemon stands as a Community Site), I have deep respect for how they have handled some "issues" that have arisen during my hiatus. While I am sure anyone who reads this blog knows what I am talking about, I rather not divulge into details or rumors, because that is simply none of our business. I just felt props was in order for the forums, and as always I challenge the Administration to a more hardcore Pokemon fan-friendly atmosphere.

While on the topics of forums, you may or may not know that my own forum Shinou is now defunct. Yes, the forum I had been bragging about and defining as the "end of the PC era" turned out to be a flop. Although membership activity was strong, it was simply that of our Spanish counterpart PokeSafari. In a rather suprising turn-of-events, Nil (owner of PokeSafari) made his own Serebii-type forum secretly and then launching a migration campaign once it had open, while he fully denied it to the rest of the Community Sites. This has left a bitter taste in my mouth for any International Webmaster, and it has taught me some important lessons before I embark on Shinou2. Bilingual Forums do not work, simple as that.

Shinou is not dead forever, I will once again reattempt to test out a new system in hopes of coming up with a more perfect system to appeal to all Pokemon Fans. I would call myself the Ralph Nader of Pokemon Forums, but for the simple fact that he never wins, I will just say I am like the Democratic Party of the USA. After years of being the minority, they finally are in power (not to say I support them) but I too hope to rise from this minor ditch and will attempt to make the perfect place for the PokeFans.

I am worried with myself for writing this much, but when you have insomnia and are bored out of your mind you do crazy things. I went on LiveJournal for the first time in over like 1-2 years and read some peoples LJs. I find it crazy people still use that thing, but hey then again I am still blogging on Google. Anyways, since I cannot sleep I am sure I will have like 20 new blog posts today/tonight just releasing all my pent up views.

Cya Then!

- BlaZe

Zelda Kicks Ass As Does Shinou!

Shinou Community Forums hit 3,000 registered members today. Since opening around 3 months ago, we have been flooded with mostly spanish speaking members alongside a small secular English following that continues to grow.
However, as anyone who knows the English Forum market knows that it is basically impossible to create a fan base or stronghold. In order to complete that, we needed the essential help of our Spanish side that has continued to pour new users in. As time goes by, the more users who comes adds to Google Searches (Member Lists) and will continue to get us better known.
So today we may not be as big as PokeCommunity English-wise, but we are on a definite path to kick their ass. With Diamond/Pearl launching in the United States, the Shinou name which is basically alongside Shinnoh (the USA version of the region) will give us a huge boost in viewers. Plus unlike our competitors, our sites actually have a cult based following for our content, which will lead to a higher percentage of join rates.

Anyways, just beat the Gerudo Desert level in Zelda, so I am officially half way done with the game. It is absolutely amazing, and I wish there was more places I could swim, because I absolutely just LOVE swimming under water in Lake Hylia.

Buy Out The Competition

Recently, I have been pondering how a site like PokeZam could manage to get around 3,000 hits per day while I and TotalPokemon were in a hiatus. Today, I presumed to have found the real answer which as any human with a brain would realize is not because of any actual good content or news.
Earlier this year PokeZam bought out Pkmn-Source for a undisclosed sum (ranging in the $100 area, if memory serves correct). Infact, I arranged the bid when Mark approached me when he was looking for a buyer. Anyways, until a few weeks if not days ago PKMN Source was running in cooperation of PokeZam while still averaging 1-2k unique hits per day. They have decided to instead just redirect it to PokeZam thus causing the soar in hits.
So I guess I was wrong about the French side being the reason, as it is just a simple little tactic I like to call "Buying Out The Competition"

Operation Dr. Pepper

Tomorrow BGT and I will be launching a new service through TotalPokemon, Shinou, and beyond. I am absolutely thrilled to be working on it to say the least, and usually I have some sweet code names to go along with them. However, I just couldn't think of one so we will be calling it Operation Dr. Pepper (since I really wish I had a Dr. Pepper at the minute).

Just for the record it is NOT PokeFeeds or any news service organization, although it may at times include Pokemon news. However, this is something entirely different that possibly could eclipse TotalPokemon in hits or at the very least influence within the Pokemon Fandom.

I haven't decided what type of advertising method I will be using yet. TotalPokemon launched with just a small grassroots campaign, while Shinou was heavily marketed for a few days which happened to occur alongside the Diamond/Pearl launch.

Mii Review Red Steel

After about 2-3 days of playing Red Steel (about 20-40 minutes per level, with their being 12 levels I believe) I can safely say that I shall be turning in this game for Rayman or something.

The graphics are actually not bad, you can tell they are gamecube-like but the story really makes up for it. There are scenes when you are in this Shrine-like area that really blows your mind that they could be displayed on the Wii.

The sound in Red Steel is pretty impressive, Ubisoft unlike Nintendo didn't overuse the Wiimote to blast unneeded sounds. Everyone in the game is voiced, which for a Gamecube-like system I was pretty impressed.

Gameplay or the script itself is absolutely amazing, and I can foresee a new successful franchise that could be Ubisoft's answer to Metal Gear Solid or some other FPS. The cut scenes were done in a magna style, which was absolutely perfect for the game.

The controls however were mediocre, and you could tell that this part of the game was rushed. Numerous times I had to recalibrate the wiimote with the sensor because my gun pointing in the air and going around in circles (which led to numerous outbreaks of nausea I might add). Ontop of that the nunchuck sometimes had a delayed response when I went to block or parry, which was a slight annoyance at times.

Glitches are absolutely horrible in this game, and is the sole reason for my wish to return the game. They range from enemies that you cannot kill to game freezes which causes a screeching sound to come out of your TV. Though some were funny, it just really is too big of a hassle and really takes away from the overall gameplay.

I personally am giving this game a 74/100, with a detailed list of everything I took off for below.

Graphics : 9/10
Sound: 10/10
Gameplay: 10/10
Controls: 5/10
Game Perfection (Glitch-Free): 3/10

37/50 *2 = 74/100

You Want War?

Yesterday I received a hate comment on TotalPokemon from the staff of PokeZam. Which I find ironic, when yesterday I gave their time lacking Webmaster tips to improve his site. However, it appears that they were ill-received and have now tried to wage war against my site.
This is what the comment said, in specifics.

1. They usually beat TotalPokemon to news, which is quite hilarious when we were on a Hiatus and yet still beat them on certain news pieces even during that time. Usually we have gotten complaints of PokeZam STEALING our news pieces, so yeah real good one there Zammy.

2. They beat us to the Pokemon Snap DS post, which I find weird seeing we were the only news site to have a picture featuring the scan at the time of writing? Only thing PokeZam had was a one word sentence that said "We know the Pokemon Snap DS can is fake thanks to Serebii" yet it included no picture, however now they WE have put up the scam they must have stolen the picture and published it as their own.

3. In final said I like to argue, which I have never done on my Pokemon site. This "PokeZam" is clearly trying to start something. Let it be known, that they have had a distaste for us since we abruptly kicked them out of Shinou prior to the forums' launch.

So to the Staff of PokeZam I say this, don't attack another site just out of pure jealousy and spite. Even though you have your site in another major language that barely has any major players in yet, you still only receive about 1,000 more then us and this right after our prolonged hiatus. Enjoy your temporary hit increase, because you just got TotalPokemon motivated to take names and kick some ass.

kthxbai