Lavender Town

[Lycanthropy]

Seeing as nobody picked it up yet, would you mind if I take it?

 

[Lycanthropy]

Okay, I finally got around to finish up this thing. I wasn't entirely sure how to display the quotes, since that'll going to get completely restyled anyway, so I just used a different font. I'm open for suggestions on improvement, so fire away!

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Excerpt: Check out people's experiences with one of the most notable locations in Pokémon Red, Blue and Yellow: Lavender Town.

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It may be a small town in eastern Kanto, but nevertheless Lavender Town plays a big part in the main story of the first generation games and their remakes. When you think of Lavender Town, the first thing that comes to mind is the Pokémon Tower, which is basically the only interesting building within the town's borders. This multi-floor graveyard is one of the many towers in the Pokémon world (each region has at least one of them), but it is notable in a couple of ways.

The Pokémon Tower as seen in the first generation Pokémon games. The difference in path tiles indicates the fact that the Tower's height exceeds the town's borders.​

Not only is it the only location in Kanto where Ghost type Pokémon can be found, which in the games have to be identified with the Silph Scope in order to be battled, it is also one of the few places in the Pokémon world that holds a wild uncatchable Pokémon. The other example is the encounter with Black or White Kyurem in Pokémon Black 2 or White 2 respectively. The only difference is that Poké Balls could still be used to try to capture the ghost Marowak, but they would instantly fail, even Master Balls.

It's a ghost! Quick, use the Silph Scope!​

You may have heard about this disorder called the Lavender Town Syndrome. It is described as the cause of the reported child suicides that took place around the time Pokémon Red and Green were released in Japan in many creepypasta stories. Supposedly the background music of Lavender Town, which was already creepy enough by itself, hypnotized young children and controlled them to jump off buildings. The details on what exactly happened and who was behind it differ between versions. I can recommend you to look them up if you're into this type of stories or just want to read something plainly weird. (Read more about the Lavender Town Syndrome here.)

Now why Lavender Town out of all locations of Kanto, why pin Pokémon games at all, as the background of these unfortunate happenings? What is so special about said town? We asked around on the PokéCommunity forums; here are some opinions.

It's definitely this music that is said to mind control little children that has a major role in the typical creepy Lavender Town atmosphere, so says Hiidoran.

That music still creeps me out, that's for sure.

The whole nature of that town was just so different from the feel of the other towns and cities, welcomed or not. I liked the deviation from the happy, whimsical music the other towns had given the player up until that point. It was kind of a hallowing moment to realize even the world of Pokémon had a place of solitude and reverence.​

DePyro can only agree to this, a game wouldn't be a game without its music.

If you ask 1000 people I guaruntee the biggest and most common factor people will have towards Lavender Town is the music. Let's face it, an "epic" movie isn't epic without an orchestral fanfare fight scene and a horror film isn't a horror without awkward chords during high stress periods. Sound is a big factor in what sets the mood to a memory our brains base memories off of senses.​

But the music didn't do everything by itself. The general setting of the town was completely different from the rest of the Kanto region, according to Melody, and not in a positive way.

Lavender Town did actually strike me as a bit excessively morbid and creepy for the game. Like the fact that they talk at all about the concept of death in a children's video game struck me as odd. But then again I do feel like that's part of the charm of the original game. It feels like a lot of work was put into it.​

illumine agrees completely. The playing experience suddenly takes a turn when the player enters Lavender Town, where you're thrown into a graveyard out of nothing.

The first games, after handing you a Pokémon, then sent you off - and notice how people frequently named their characters after themselves, so there's personal identification here - then sent you off to a 'Pokémon graveyard,' and then having so extracted away the companions to leave you alone, as in a weird horror thing, throws in ghosts who can also not be fought - so that it's effectively saying that your Pokémon are now unable to move, in this place, and this is the area - before you are told to stop by a ghostly Marowak, and the player is supposed to just run wildly into these things. So, like, 'Hey, [your name], look at the dead Pokémon, now here are some ghosts all of a sudden to meet you.'​

Not everybody was scared by the spooky town of Kanto though, Noa for one actually enjoyed the place.

You know, in some way their
derpy looks make these ghosts
actually look kind of cute.

You know, even as a six year old I was never ~too~ spooked by Lavender Town. In fact I thought it was quite beautiful that they addressed the concept of remembering your beloved Pokemon in death, and the Marowak story really touched me, even moving me to tears when I helped Marowak move on to the afterlife.

To this day, it's one of my favorite towns. I especially love the town's theme as well as the Pokemon Tower's theme.​

 

[bobandbill]

Pretty good overall!

We do need a cover image (possible one?) and an article excerpt (a short sentence or two). The latter can probably state that this article will cover some opinions on the notable Lavender Town from the Pokémon Red, Blue and Yellow games. On that note, do we want to make this part of a series - "Pokémon Places", or somesuch?

I'd say that an interesting thing to include is some info on what it is based on in the real world, but google suggests it isn't based on much. So much for that.

Pictures can be added in - perhaps a screenshot of the Tower when you start talking about it, for example. Also maybe a url to one explanation of the Lavender Town Syndrome from another site?

Some nitpicks:

Not only is it the only location in Kanto where ghost type Pokémon can be found, which in the games have to be identified with the Silph scope in order to be battled, it is also one of the few places in the Pokémon world that holds a wild uncatchable Pokémon, the other being Black and White Kyurem in Black 2 and White 2 respectively.

I'd split this into two sentences, e.g. "...a wild uncatchable Pokémon. The only other example is the encounter with Black...".

The only difference is that Pokéballs could still be used to try to capture the ghost Marowak, but they would instantly fail, even Masterballs.

Go with Poké Balls and Master Balls - two words, like in the games.

We asked around on the PokéCommunity forums, here are some opinions.

Two sentences (...forums. Here are...), or replace the comma with a semicolon.

It's definitely this music that is said to mindcontrol little children that has a major role in the typical creepy Lavender Town atmosphere, so says Hiidoran.

mind control as two words, I think. We also ought to have a link to the member's profile page for the first instance of their username appearing.

If you ask 1000 people I garuntee the biggest and most common factor people will have towards Lavender Town is the music. Lets face it, an "Epic" movie isn't epic without an orchestral fanfare fight scene, and a horror film isn't a horror without awkward chords during high stress periods. Sound is a big factor in what sets the mood to a memory - our brains base memories off of senses.

guarantee, and the other bolded bits I've put it. It is a quote from someone else, but we should fix small grammatical errors like those.

illumine agrees completely, the playing experience

I'd also make a new sentence here (...completely. The playing...).

So, like, 'Hey, [your name], look at the dead Pokémon, now here are some ghosts all of a sudden, to meet you.'

I think we can go without the comma after 'sudden'.

 

[Lycanthropy]

We do need a cover image (possible one?) and an article excerpt (a short sentence or two). The latter can probably state that this article will cover some opinions on the notable Lavender Town from the Pokémon Red, Blue and Yellow games. On that note, do we want to make this part of a series - "Pokémon Places", or somesuch?

That image looks good.

I definitely agree to making this part of a series, in case people want to write about other places later. I probably will anyway. As for a name: I've been thinking, but can't find anything that can beat the alliteration of "Pokémon Places", so let's stick with that.

I'd say that an interesting thing to include is some info on what it is based on in the real world, but google suggests it isn't based on much. So much for that.

Yeah, I could find a bit on what city Lavender was based on, but those were completely boring and totally unrelated to the ghost tower, so I decided to leave it out.

Pictures can be added in - perhaps a screenshot of the Tower when you start talking about it, for example. Also maybe a url to one explanation of the Lavender Town Syndrome from another site?

Gotcha, added a few.

Some nitpicks:
I'd split this into two sentences, e.g. "...a wild uncatchable Pokémon. The only other example is the encounter with Black...".
Go with Poké Balls and Master Balls - two words, like in the games.
Two sentences (...forums. Here are...), or replace the comma with a semicolon.
mind control as two words, I think. We also ought to have a link to the member's profile page for the first instance of their username appearing.
guarantee, and the other bolded bits I've put it. It is a quote from someone else, but we should fix small grammatical errors like those.
I'd also make a new sentence here (...completely. The playing...).
I think we can go without the comma after 'sudden'.

Okay, got them fixed. Thanks for pointing those out!

 

[bobandbill]

Apologies for the delay, AF stuff was rather timely and then other stuff happened.

I like the additions of images and descriptions!

A few more nitpicks:

This multi-floor graveyard is one of the many towers in the Pokémon world (each region has at least one of them), but is notable in a couple of ways.

I'd say 'but it is'.

Not only is it the only location in Kanto where ghost type Pokémon can be found,

Ghost type - we're opting for capitals for the names of types like in the games/etc and other articles.

The other example is the encounter Black or White Kyurem in Pokémon Black 2 or White 2 respectively

'...encounter with Black or...'.

After those I feel it's good to go! Needs another person to approve as well beforehand, mind. *goes to bug*

 

[Astinus]

Your instances where you mention the Silph Scope need "scope" to be capitalized. It's part of the name.

Aside from what Marcin pointed out, that was all that I saw. So just fix those things and I'd say you're good to go!

 

[Lycanthropy]

Apologies for the delay, AF stuff was rather timely and then other stuff happened.

I like the additions of images and descriptions!

A few more nitpicks:
I'd say 'but it is'.
Ghost type - we're opting for capitals for the names of types like in the games/etc and other articles.
'...encounter with Black or...'.

After those I feel it's good to go! Needs another person to approve as well beforehand, mind. *goes to bug*

Your instances where you mention the Silph Scope need "scope" to be capitalized. It's part of the name.

Aside from what Marcin pointed out, that was all that I saw. So just fix those things and I'd say you're good to go!

Wow, I had no idea the games capitalize so many things actually. I guess I should pay more attention while playing, haha.

Anyway, I fixed what you two mentioned. I can't wait to see it up!

 

[bobandbill]

It'll go up by tomorrow!

I herped and forgot to ask this earlier - please provide an email address, account name (cannot be changed!) and nickname (can be changed, and will be how you are credited as an author). Using that info to make you an account on the Wordpress side for easier author-crediting (and fancier too - you can write up a bio and include an avatar!)

notifyingggg

 

[Lycanthropy]

I herped and forgot to ask this earlier - please provide an email address, account name (cannot be changed!) and nickname (can be changed, and will be how you are credited as an author). Using that info to make you an account on the Wordpress side for easier author-crediting (and fancier too - you can write up a bio and include an avatar!)

Mail: Gonna PM you this one.
Account: Lycanthropy
Nickname: Lycanthropy

Most original names ever.

 

[bobandbill]

Cool, added! You should get an email - after you do the verification thing, you can log in via daily.pokecommunity.com/daily-account-login Then you can change your avatar and write out a short bio on this page: https://daily.pokecommunity.com/wp-admin/profile.php