Writings from Voyage Across Many Worlds: My Video Game Website - Article #3 Added - Update #3 5/1/25

[Peter Tomlan]

Hello, everyone. Hope everyone's been doing well lately. 🙂 👋

I have a website of mine that is focused on video games and their overall worlds I like. It currently and mostly has articles about Pokemon, but I would like to write about games other than the franchise in the future if I can. Since I won't be posting links to my website for people to read my articles because that would be advertising, I'll just use this thread to copy and paste my writings from my site for whoever wants to read them, and update the topic's title if I have anymore to share.

The articles in this thread will be Pokemon related, and if you enjoy any of them feel free let me know via comment or just reaction.

Before posting my articles, how about first reading part of my site's about page?:

"The first two generations of Pokémon games, to me, though containing simple, old, visuals, give a feeling like I'm adventuring, wanting to know about these creatures from ancient myths and stories, becoming friends with them, taking on a role of a hero, and aiming to be a champion, as if of a sport. It's all an adventure a child would love to go on. Pokémon is like some kind of grand journey. It's like a child's fantasy.
This is, what Pokémon is to me.

Other games would later be made in the franchise, and bring even more exciting experiences.


My goal for this site is to seek and discover the magic, wonder, stories and dreams of this amazing world, and tell its many stories and experiences the players can take part and interact with.


If what I have to offer on the site makes people happy, then that makes me glad if I have accomplished that. If I can inspire people to make their own adventure video games, like games I would love to show and cover on Voyage Across Many Worlds such as *Pokémon and non-monster-catching games, then I'll be immensely joyed!

I hope you enjoy the content I have to offer now and in the future."


*Note from me on the fourms: Pokémon games as in Pokemon inspired games, not something like rom hacks. (Never played a rom hack actually. Thus not sure how far they can go creatively reusing assets, so not sure if there's a future for those kinds of projects.)



Update #1 4/29/25: For now I'm gonna be keeping the size of my screenshots from my last article. I don't want to spend a little bit of time resizing them individually, actually.

Anyway, here's another article from my site. Again, feel free to read my new article as well as my last one, and if you enjoy any of them let me know via reply or reaction. 🙂


Update #2 4/30/25: I have another article of mine from my site to share today. Don't know if people on the fourms have been enjoying my articles, but if anyone has read only a little or part of my writings, still feel free to give me a comment or reaction of satisfaction. Not trying to be a youtuber looking for support, but it would make me happy if I knew people like reading what I like to write about. 🙂

I've also made the font size for the new article larger. Thought it might look better that way. You can let me know what you think, and give me feedback on rather or not my current writing format looks uninviting at first glance to read or whatnot. Would adjust the size for my other writings right now, but again I must be taking my leave. See you around later until then. 👋


Update #3 5/1/25: Don't mean to keep bumping my thread, but for now I'm gonna stop posting new articles from my site. If anyone would like to see me post articles newly published from my site in the future, let me know in the thread if you're interested. 🙂 And of course like I've said in my last update, if you have at least read a little of anything I have written and like one of my articles, I would to love know via a reply or reaction of gratitude of yours.

 

[Peter Tomlan]

Published Dec./17/2023/6:40 PM
​

The Mystery and Discovery of Sinnoh

What sets apart Sinnoh from the regions before it, is stumbling upon its lore and discovering the meaning of it's world you're in.


After the player has received the Pokédex and gotten their first Pokémon of the region, they are ready to go on a new adventure.


It isn't until reaching Eterna City and witnessing a certain statue, the world opens itself up to you and reveals mystery and enlightenment to its region.


The statue is of a creature that doesn't look like it belongs to ordinary time, but of the ancient past. It is like a dragon that has the magnificence of an old temple.

There are words written on the statue, but the sentences are partly faded:







"Pal.., once created, brought forth the many dimensions.
All things-alive or not...-arri... at the same space.
Such is the blessing of Pal..."







From these writings, I can arrive at the assumption this world is a blessing, to be thankful for, from this Pokémon who was generous.





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Throughout the journey you hear the run-for-joy, exciting and eagerness-to-explore music that sets the sense of your quest along with doing what you would be doing in Pokémon games: Exploring, learning about Pokémon, and aiming to be the best Pokémon Trainer.

The soundtracks I am referring to are none other than the music in routes 203, 204, 205, 207 and 208 themselves.





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Later in the adventure you come across a tall, gothic cathedral.
Inside the temple, amidst the silence, you can see people sitting on benches, and a man looking at a stained glass depicting, what looks to be, the creation of the world.

What the people say reveals the beliefs they hold onto in this world: The beauty and merits of life -







"Pokémon... People... It's only natural that we are all so very different.
Make sure that you never judge a Pokémon based on whether it's weak or strong.
You must always look for the good inside of them. That's what counts!"



"When people and Pokémon join hands, everyone's happy.
It makes everyone come together. It could even make the world one!"



"That people are lonely is only natural. It gives me compassion for others.
It's what makes me look forward to a better tomorrow.
But there are still moments of fondness for the past. Time can heal some sadness, though..."



"The art of crafting things fatigues one's spirit.
When the spirit is healed, the desire to make something returns.
It is such a wondrous cycle."






_____________________________________________________________




There's a route you eventually arrive at. And hearing its music and traveling through its scenery, makes you think of the wonder, mystery and discovery that's out in the region.

It is the music of Route 209 that takes you to that immersion.


There are other stories of Pokémon passed that can be read in the game, but writing about them here would make this article too long.
I will share this story, though:







"When that Pokémon was born, intelligence bloomed among us, enriching our lives.
When that Pokémon was born, emotions bloomed among us, giving us joy and sorrow.
When that Pokémon was born, willpower bloomed among us, spurring us into action".






_____________________________________________________________




There's also the mysterious Unown. Curious looking creatures that resemble letters of the Latin alphabet.

They mostly don't look like Pokémon, and look like they came from another universe.
Were these weird Pokémon created to communicate messages to us? Because in a ruin where they can be found, there is a wall that depicts writing resembling the Unown and revealing another truth about the world:







"Friendship.
All lives
touch other
lives to create.
something
anew and alive."






_____________________________________________________________




By progressing far enough in the adventure, you get to see some of the Pokémon of these stories.
And who doesn't wanna meet a creator that has given us so much to enjoy and cherish.​

 

[Peter Tomlan]

Update #1: For now I'm gonna be keeping the size of my screenshots from my last article. I don't want to spend a little bit of time resizing them individually, actually.

Anyway, here's another article from my site. Again, feel free to read my new article as well as my last one, and if you enjoy any of them let me know via reply or reaction. 🙂

Published Dec./17/2023/6:40 PM​

What I Like in Competitive Pokémon

The screenshot above shows my very first starter Pokémon. That being my Venasaur, Leaf Blade, from Pokémon Leaf Green.


Am I writing about something unrelated to the website? To that I will answer: Competing against trainers, in battles, that makes you experience amazing crashes of wit and thrill of overcoming hard challenges is part of what defines Pokémon: Getting to encounter every thing wonderful that makes the world of Pokémon one you'll always want to visit, seek and find one of the great happiness of life - what I have wrote on my website's about page:







The first two generations of Pokémon games, to me, though containing simple, old, visuals, give a feeling like I'm adventuring, wanting to know about these creatures from ancient myths and stories, becoming friends with them, taking on a role of a hero, and aiming to be a champion, as if of a sport. It's all an adventure a child would love to go on. Pokémon is like some kind of grand journey. It's like a child's fantasy.
This is, what Pokémon is to me.

Other games would later be made in the franchise, and bring even more exciting experiences.







And that's how I feel about playing competitively in Pokémon. It's part of interacting with the world and immersing in it's themes.
If I had my way, I would be forever traveling this world and always search and find what I love in Pokémon's universe.


Of course, when it comes to the Pokémon games, there's hardly anything to do when you finish everything in the games.



Turn-based Battle System

One of the things I like about competitive Pokémon is the fact it's a turn-based battle system.
Because it's turn-based, I can take my time to think what I should do.

The game is not taking turns in immediate seconds, so it doesn't have an air of intimidation.

When strategizing is the only thing you need to win, and you can take your time to think, there's strength within you in this game.
You don't try to master several skills. And that encourages me to want to play better, and gives me a feeling like I can defeat anyone!



Making New Friends to Travel with You on the Road of Competition

You choose a team of Pokémon, take good time to develop them to be battle-ready and be proud of your after efforts, and go on to compete with them by your side.

When it comes to knowing what Pokémon will be battling with you, it's like knowing what great friends you will be alongside: The strength or great support they provide, the trust you have in their abilities, the personalities the Pokémon have that will be your favorite characters, the charm, style or coolness they express through attacks or hanging out with you.

And if you can have exciting battles with them, which you will be bound to have no matter your skill level, you will create a story that's memorable and have a group of allies to cherish.



The Definition of a Great Competitor

To be a great player, doesn't have to be someone that's pro at the game, but a competitor that never aims for the top and always wanna learn and improve in the game.
And in doing so you will enjoy the competition.


Whenever you can do well, doesn't need to be winning games, you will have a good time.
A feeling you wouldn't have had if you didn't try to improve.

That's the spirit of the competition: What it means to be a player.
If I battled just because I wanted to be victorious or that I wanted to win prize money, I would become overwhelmed and play terribly.


It really is about wanting to up your game and have fun to be what it means to be a player.

Closing Thoughts

Like I said: Competitive Pokémon complements one of the themes of Pokémon and is a way to interact with the world.

As long as there are new battles on the horizon of brand new days, and that are unique from the battles of the past, I want to keep competing and enjoying that part of the Pokémon sphere.​

 

[Peter Tomlan]

Update #2: I have another article of mine from my site to share today. Don't know if people on the fourms have been enjoying my articles, but if anyone has read only a little or part of my writings, still feel free to give me a comment or reaction of satisfaction. Not trying to be a youtuber looking for support, but it would make me happy if I knew people like reading what I like to write about. 🙂

I've also made the font size for the new article larger. Thought it might look better that way. You can let me know what you think, and give me feedback on rather or not my current writing format looks uninviting at first glance to read or whatnot. Would adjust the size for my other writings right now, but again I must be taking my leave. See you around later until then. 👋

Published June./8/2024/7:28 PM​

Pokémon I Like From Pokémon Designers

Today I want to write about Pokémon I like from a few fellow Pokémon artists. A few or a couple of Pokémon that is.

If you're a fan of this franchise and know the full list of Pokémon these designers have created, it gives you the impression the world of Pokémon really is a big world. It just goes to show you there's so much variety of Pokémon to like in it.

The artists themselves are the ones responsible for creating Pokémon we come across and befriend with in the world of Pokémon. These are the Pokémon that make us smile at times on our road to whatever we want to accomplish as fellow Pokémon Trainers. Or make us happy in a different way.



James Turner

James Turner's philosophy in designing Pokémon is thinking of characters people would wanna be friends with. As he has said before in a video interviewed by magazine and website Game Informer.

When you see him in real life, as far as I know, he's a simply quiet and pretty casual person. But when he's drawing, you can see him bring out his philosophy and different sides of his personality into his characters. And you can see that in his fun, whimsical and happy Pokémon designs.

The artists themselves are the ones responsible for creating Pokémon we come across and befriend with in the world of Pokémon. These are the Pokémon that make us smile at times on our road to whatever we want to accomplish as fellow Pokémon Trainers. Or make us happy in a different way.



Atsuko Nishida

Next Pokémon designer I want to talk about is Atsuko Nishida.

Like James Turner, it looks like she follows the same belief of designing Pokémon people would wanna be friends with, if in their world. She's come up with a variety of Pokémon different from one another, and James Turner's Pokémon.

Add to that, Nishida is creative when it comes to designing creatures. They're unlike any creatures created at the time. A pleasant-looking cartoony mouse with long ears and chubby red cheeks - Pikachu.

A Pokémon, again, creatively designed as well, and designed to be a cute turtle, which you never would expect to see knowing the animal in real life - Squirtle.


Perhaps you like things associated with the beauty and calm of night. Umbreon is a Pokémon you would like.

Perhaps you are a fan of fantasy, and would like to have a galloping, majestic and fantasy-like horse as one of your Pokémon teammates. Rapidash is a Pokémon you would also like.



Yusuke Ohmura

Next Pokémon designer I want to talk about is Yusuke Ohmura. This designer hasn't designed as much Pokémon as the other designers I wrote about, but he's still worth writing about.

The Pokémon he has created are, again, creative, and carry different themes. There's Xerneas who is a Pokémon that represents life, the opposite to Yveltal's representation. Xerneas looks like a mysterious and mythical creature that would bless life around it as it walks in a forest.

A deer was a perfect animal to take inspiration for its design. As well as having its antlers resemble tree branches, with the colored leaves on it. Because those ideas give you an idea the Pokémon lives in nature and at times miraculously grows and glorifies it.

Personally, a Pokémon like this doesn't need more of a story for us to like it more as a Legendary Pokémon. It already has lore if you're just going by what I have said about it in the two last paragraphs.


Samurott, alongside Emboar and Serperior, who weren't designed by Ohmura, are said by Game Freak to represent noble emperors. You might think even though they originated in a region based after America, they don't look like they're inspired by anything from that country. I mean, the United States itself was a place where many different people from afar settled. So technically, it isn't an idea out of nowhere that these three Pokémon look the way that they do.

As a matter of fact, Junichi Masuda has said when he visited New York City, he felt like the whole world was there. I can understand the cultural inspiration of the Pokémon from that feeling of Masuda's alone.

The idea of making the starters noble emperors, feels like to me, goes along with the good vs. evil theme of Pokémon Black and White's story.

The idea of Samurott taking inspiration from a samurai, gives you an idea of its personality. That being valiant and honorable.



Ken Sugimori

Last Pokémon creator I want to write about is the one that has been in the franchise's history since the beginning. That being: Ken Sugimori.

He's a Pokémon designer that has created so many Pokémon with different themes, that you can't quite pinpoint how you would describe him as a Pokémon creator. There's not one word that would fit all different faces he has as a Pokémon maker. He has come up with the likes of, to name some names, Nidoking, Slowbro, Arcanine, Pichu, Unown, Blaziken, Dialga and Palkia.


Nidoking is one of my favorites from his portfolio. It's this Pokémon that has this design that expresses strength, is embodied with sturdy armor, and has spikes sticking out from behind itself.

It looks like a Pokémon with different options of fighting. Like its large tail that looks like it would use it to turn around for a strong attack. It has great Sp. Atk power with Sheer Force, so it can use great Sp. Atk moves, not just Physical. Alongside the fact it can learn a variety of elemental moves in both stats.

It looks like it would be able to give good punches with its claws folded. There's a Pokedex entry in Pokémon Yellow that suggests Its horns are so hard, they can pierce a diamond. Imagine seeing its horn on its forehead drilling an actual diamond and seeing chips of the gem spark out.

Combine all of what I said about Nidoking, and you have a Pokémon that looks like it would be exciting to see fighting in a Pokémon battle if you were to use one.

This Pokémon also shows the fantastical side of the Pokémon world. It shows amazing things Pokémon have the abilities to do. It makes one awe at the facts, and see what more there is about Pokémon that they wouldn't have known was possible to exist.


Last Pokémon on Ken Sugimori's roster I'll talk about is Blaziken. This Pokémon was the first humanoid Pokémon in the francise.

It can throw a large diverse range of thrilling melee attacks and jumps in battle. The Pokedex entries make it sound like anything can do it can do incredibly, like stating it can easily clear a 30-story building in one leap. It's like a supernatural human fighter in Pokémon form. It's another Pokémon that would be exciting to see fighting in a Pokémon battle if you were to use one.

Again, this Pokémon also shows the fantastical side of the Pokémon world. It shows amazing things Pokémon have the abilities to do. It makes one awe at the facts, and see what more there is about Pokémon that they wouldn't have known was possible otherwise.

Since Torchic is its first evolution stage, you would think Torchic would eventually evolve into a traditional bird creature. That would be a potentially great idea if made to be a likable character. But its evolution ends up being something also great that you would never expect come into formation.

What makes Blaziken a bird, disregarding its appearance, I would say would be its capability to jump so high. It has its own means of soaring.​

 

[Peter Tomlan]

Update #3: Don't mean to keep bumping my thread, but for now I'm gonna stop posting new articles from my site. If anyone would like to see me post articles newly published from my site in the future, let me know in the thread if you're interested. 🙂 And of course like I've said in my last update, if you have at least read a little of anything I have written and like one of my articles, I would love to know via a reply or reaction of gratitude of yours.

 

[Safr]

Love your website. Reading it now