Making Peace with the WORST Pokémon Game

[@Transparencyboo]

Hello, thank you for watching this weird video. If you want to see more bonkers stuff from us in the future, then please consider supporting us over on www.patreon.com/transparens. For as little as a dollar a month you get access to our Discord, a bunch of Audio Companions for several episodes and much more. Hugs and kisses, you goobers! 🧡

[@mikhaelgribkov4117]

Is there a tier to suggest topic? Not to be pushy, it's just doesn't show if there's a way.

[@Transparencyboo]

@@mikhaelgribkov4117 There is not. We have thought about it, but it sadly doesn't vibe well with how we otherwise make videos. Being under obligation to talk about certain topics and there not being a spark or idea on our part would just feel a bit strange I think. We have a bit of a backlog of ideas we want to do as well. Although, I'd say we always listen to suggestions on topics at the very least. At any tier you could get access to our Discord, and we're basically there every day interacting, so that might be the best way to subtly influence us to talk about something 😈

[@mikhaelgribkov4117]

@@Transparencyboo ok, dokie, will take in mind, I love influencing people over time.

[@TBSkyen]

Watching a pokémon on the TV watch a pokémon on the TV on the Pokémon Channel in the Pokémon Channel on KZbin

[@Transparencyboo]

The recursion is going wild!

[@mikhaelgribkov4117]

Truly the best satire is the blatant propaganda.

[@lesbianesti]

holy crap, this channel is raising the bar for KZbin video essays. I love this format, with a more modernist analysis followed by a postmodern one, it's very unique.

[@Transparencyboo]

It took a bit longer than planned to produce because of the wild twists and turns in it, but as it came together I think it was all worth it in the end. Unique is probably the right word, I don't think another analysis like it quite exists, at least not about Pokémon Channel that's for sure, haha.

[@TheGlooga]

Man the discussions of reading this game as a postmodern exploration of consumerism, vouyerism, and our relation with media makes me think that there's a horror game that could be made with a similar premi * remembers sam barlow * o right

[@TheGlooga]

if u think about it pokemon channel is exactly like immortality. i think.

[@Transparencyboo]

@@TheGlooga Exactly the same.

[@WoofTree137]

What a cool video! I love the false dichotomy you built between "wasteful commercialism and profound satire" because yes! Things can be both! Art and creative products are so nuanced, even the "bad" ones.

[@Transparencyboo]

It's kind of the mission statement of the entire channel, that you can read games and other media in any possible way you like and to treat them like art. :)

[@cookierill]

Maybe this sounds silly, but my memories of this from elementary school were surprisingly positive, not just because I was an ignorant impressionable child, but also because the combination of real-time and late capitalist aesthetics felt like what I would today call Warholian.

[@Transparencyboo]

Nah, that makes perfect sense, haha.

[@Rumboats]

54:35 what an incredible shot LMAO Wonderful essay! I particularly like how you phrased the point about media almost sort of teaching players/viewers how to engage with the rest of its multimedia products (to teach someone to go "hey, I recognize this yellow guy, it's pikachu and it goes pika-pi!", paraphrasing your video). Contemporary conditions of production allow for such a density of cultural commodities that inevitably a franchise will start commenting on itself. Every IP develops its own private language and reiterates its history. A sign of this ever-increasing self-citation: an economy of references autonomously complexifying itself as its history bleeds new configurations (pokémon begins thinking itself). Its immensity collapses on itself, such that the source material gains an almost surreal existence (can I really look at pikachu normally ever again? Much like the Mona Lisa, I don't know what it would mean to look at it anew. All viewing is conditioned, of course, but maybe not in this way - ghost copy presences of mass divulgion of itself). When Alicia described how products relating to Pokemon Channel couldn't stand on their own, each product being a proxy of another, never quite satisfactory on its own and pointing to other things, etc. None of that says anything about the quality of these products, of course. Both can be true (greatly reflected by the video's two parts!): to reproduce versions of itself and for those products to nonetheless be something that artists worked earnestly and passionately on. In fact, this game is a childhood favourite. One of the first games in my life to showcase the pleasure of a slower experience, along with Animal Crossing (it's almost a glorified video interface, as you point out). I didn’t expected to be as thouroughly convinced of Channel possibly being parody, but Kiki’s argument towards the end, highlighting pikachu’s little gestures of agency (the game being so uncompromising as to even give the little interactivity you had over to Pikachu!), and how they related to the assymetrical relationship of television and videogames (one not depending on the other) was really persuasive.

[@Transparencyboo]

Thank you, glad you liked it!

[@MisterTellius]

I am saving this for my Watch Later playlist and feeding the algorithm with an engaging comment!!!! WOOOOOOoooooo I will comment again later

[@Transparencyboo]

Bless 🧡

[@Alex-xk5xt]

y'all are really making some of the best shit on here. no one else would dare to make this video.

[@Transparencyboo]

We are nothing if not daring and bold I suppose, haha.

[@Kirobsi]

"One of the main vessels for bridging the gap between player and game is based around the idea of synchronized time and how it accumulates. Days pass the same between Pokémon Channel and our reality, which suggests that our virtual pet is equally experiencing our absence [...] as much as our playtime together. Which [...] is meant to incentivise you to repeatedly come back and spend time with your silly creature friend." noted. Now I, a silly creature friend if I do say so myself, will incentivise my friends to spend more time with _me_ by consistently reminding them that as time passes without interacting with me, I _really_ feel it. I _really_ feel it. I _really_ feel it. I *_really_* feel it. Thank you for the inadvertent advice :-)

[@Transparencyboo]

You're welcome, friend

[@narashite]

every essay from this channel is a blessing ❤

[@Transparencyboo]

Thank you, that means a lot to hear!

[@HobbitTanoo]

Great video as always! Love the juxtaposition of the different perspectives, very much echoing the contextualism vs new criticism debate in literary theory. they both feel like the types of discussions usually present in your videos so it's interesting to see them so clearly separated like this. also v cool to see Kiki in a video!!!

[@Transparencyboo]

Aw thank you, that's a really thoughtful way of putting it. Kiki also appreciates all the excitement about her!

[@nicklyskawa3504]

I love this channel, truly pushing the boundaries for video essays, especially based on games. I’ve said this before I’m past videos, but i feel like you both are really evolving the discourses around video games and video game theory, as in what makes the medium of video games distinct. Let me say it again for the algorithm, I LOVE THIS CHANNEL!!!

[@Transparencyboo]

Thank you so much, we really appreciate it 🧡

[@Mother_boards]

My favorite Pokemon is probably Primarina, so needless to say, Kiki has excellent taste.

[@Transparencyboo]

Thank you 🧡

[@convincingmountain]

can't believe you guys got smeargle on to do a segment. really shows how far the channel has come. keep it up girls please and thank you

[@Transparencyboo]

Thank you, it took a lot of planning and hard work to get Smeargle on there, but we did it! We'll keep keeping on! :)

[@technopoptart]

kiki did a wonderful job, you both did! thankyou for this lovely essay

[@Transparencyboo]

Thank you! Kiki will be very happy to hear it 🧡

[@DoneRandomLee]

So I have a personal story about this game, so I would often rent video games because I was poor and want new games and growing up pokemon was everywhere. I even firmly remember outside my 4th grade classroom they had a poster advertising the release of Pokemon emerald it was just that common, so when I saw this new pokemon game on the shelf called pokemon channel I had to rent it. The thing is my rented copy was set to go to a screen telling me if I enjoyed the demo to buy the game after the first episode of the Pichu brothers anime. Now I may be misremembering because I can't find anything of that online but I clearly remember that all I could do was watch the Pichu brothers episode 1 and this made kid me mad. Because I thought there is no way this is all the game was. Yes they had gba carts that only had a few episodes of a show like SpongeBob but that was often two episodes when this was literally just one. So I made it my goal to eventually buy the game because I knew there had to be more to it than simply watching some episodes of the anime, the issue is I couldn't find it. It wasn't until my family went way out of our normal way and went to a big mall looking for a Nintendo Wii. We didn't find one of course but I finally found pokemon channel for $20, complete with everything inside. I was so happy because I was finally going to solve this mystery I had for probably two years so on the car ride I was looking at the back of the box screenshots and looking through the manual and my mind went wild thinking what this game would be. Exclusive anime episodes, able to see pokemon interacting in the wild and becoming friends with them, and being able to be in the Pokemon world while not going on a adventure and instead doing more what I do irl having fun with pets. Sadly I rarely left my room in the game because I thought the point and click controls was too slow and unresponsive for 10 year old me so I mainly bought things on the Squirtle shopping network, answered trivia questions for money and played on my pokemon mini. I got bored after a while and stopped playing daily and instead took like 3 months away from the game but when I came back I never wanted to play it ever again. Because the game told me how long since I last played and it said Pikachu showed up outside my room every day wanting to play but I never showed back up.....and I was crying for the rest of the day and deleted the save file because I didn't want to continue making Pikachu sad

[@Transparencyboo]

Guilt tripping you about Pikachu is probably the meanest thing a game could do, lol.

[@flux3238]

Your pfp got me confused but also very interested. That Pikachu with a cardboard heart on its tail, it’s so sweet

[@cookiestar3069]

Wow! I’d never heard of this game before (it sounds like a nightmare lol). This was such a fascinating analysis. I went from thinking it was little more than a grotesque training video for good little toddler consumers to a successful piece of satire, intentional or otherwise. Happy to see Kiki have a more prominent onscreen role! Her appearance in the Classic Sonic video always makes me smile. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go purchase a truckload of Kadabra plushies.

[@Transparencyboo]

Glad you liked it, and that the contrast between the two segments worked out well! I've always liked Kiki's little segment in the Sonic video, it's very fun.

[@dhorinfireheart99]

Wow wow wow, this really made me think of this very differently than what I have previously thought of this franchise! One of the things that I truly adore about this channel is how it incentivises me to think more about the art that we enjoy. That that is also a part in our enjoyment of it, and honestly it makes me appreciate it even more! Also also I love how this episode was structured like two programs!! Tusen tack Kiki & Alicia 💖

[@Transparencyboo]

Thank you, that's really reassuring to hear. It has always been a goal for us to take curious and interesting approaches to the videos we make. It's always nice to hear that they make people think :) Tack för att du fortsätter att titta 🧡

[@Paperlanty]

pokemon channel is good because it led to Kiki as Smeargle and Alicia as reporter Meowth seriously though, I really enjoyed the jokey bits as someone who played and revisited the game a number of times and memorized a lot of the weird stuff. I'm happy you gals covered the game! I was also a sucker for the jirachi, and I even got a pokemon mini? (it was not very good) Also thanks again for uploading with captions❤ highly approve of the favorite pokemon, though there are no bad choices - mine's lanturn with furret as a close second

[@Paperlanty]

TEDDI URSA

[@Transparencyboo]

Kiki is a treasure and we must protect her.

[@baconlabs]

This was cause for self-reflection on my part. I still own a copy of this game, but I never touched it after the first week or two I had it. But I was definitely in the target audience at the time - between the GBA games and Colosseum, I, as they say, lived in a Pokemon world. I scraped for every excuse I could find to further immerse myself in this fantasy. My memory's a bit hazy, but this could very well have been the first point I asked "Was that it?" and started feeling disillusioned with the whole married-to-the-brand thing, though it took many years for that feeling to settle in. A little ironic that my doubts about the franchise coincided with the game that arguably celebrated it the most.

[@Transparencyboo]

It's a weird game. I don't quite remember how I got it or what I thought about it back then. My opinion on it has changed a lot, many times in fact, over the years though. It's truly a game that does a lot of things worth thinking about despite what little it offers.

[@ewanduck55]

your channel has been such a great find. you clearly put so much love and care into them. keep on keeping on.

[@Transparencyboo]

We'll do our best! Thank you! 🧡

[@dusk616]

I recall the week i spent playing pokemon channel back in the day and I am overcome by a sense of calm, of ease, of security that real life has not replicated once since my earliest memories. The sound of the game is the piano piece for the TV-less bedroom and the outdoors theme. It is the world of Pokémon at its most mundane level, presenting in the most effective sense just how Completely Past socioeconomic inequality it is, so much so that the villains of that world can only be motivated by utter boredom. It makes the experience the core games present so much more enviable; to be so beyond our real-world concerns and insecurities that they can send kids on country-spanning (even continent-wide at times) adventures solely to see the world without a care. Meanwhile Pokémon Channel, a profoundly sedate experience that everyone within Pokémon actively tries to escape, can inspire so much genuine jealous grief in my heart. I long for the day when I could actually safely spend a week lazing about watching TV and chilling outdoors, and it is the worst-case scenario for 99% of everyone in that universe. That could be our world. We could support each other and be in such close harmony woth the planet around us. I want to pull the Pokémon utopia out of the RAM and impose it upon us. How free we would be.

[@princessLilytea]

At 52:31 I was very aware that I too was now one of the tv-ception layers. All I was missing was a pikachu that was watched alongside me.

[@Transparencyboo]

You'll have to get one of those chunky Pikachu plushies too, haha

[@princessLilytea]

​@@Transparencyboo Love the old chunky style xD (I forgot! I used to own one. my parents might still have my old pikachu plushy 🤔)

[@Transparencyboo]

@@princessLilytea That would be cool, better call up the parents :)

[@dizzydee4889]

what silly and fun and legitimately intriguing analysis. and its always great seeing Kiki in front of the camera! keep raising the youtube game analysis bar x

[@Transparencyboo]

Thank you! We will both keep doing our very best 🧡

[@DoubleATam]

When I see this game's odd structure and the neat little details and animations with the occasional hint of parody, I see the game as more than just a promotional cash grab, and I think... This was still made by people. And to them, this is just a bit of a slice of life, mundane but indulgent. It's only slightly simplified, exaggerated, and embellished. But the unthinking reverence to the brand is undeniable. It reminds me of the fanartist to tcg artist to Pokémon designer pipeline. To some extent or another, a lot of companies are made of possibly its own biggest fans. And as someone who still likes the critters themselves... what am I these days? I don't like admitting I'm a fan of Pokémon, or of Sonic, or Mario or whatever. I don't even buy the games anymore. I just want them to be freed from the machine.

[@Transparencyboo]

"I stand before you today to talk about Pokémon liberation"

[@mikhaelgribkov4117]

@@Transparencyboo we need to do that right after droid rebellion in the galaxy far, far away.

[@Transparencyboo]

@@mikhaelgribkov4117 Yes, one thing at a time

[@EdomondSanz]

Seeing Kiki in this video was a lovely surprise, I loved it

[@Transparencyboo]

I suppose we just often make videos where we talk nice about games that has a bad rep. Then again by the end of it I think we still end on a bit of a positive note. Pokémon Channel is just such a weird game that we can't help to be a bit all over the place with it. Ever since I got it back when it came out I have switched opinions on it several times, haha.

[@WannabeMarysue]

Meowth's Party slaps and goes hard.

[@Transparencyboo]

It's funny how it started as a tech demo for the Gamecube, just kind of strange seeing it pop up there. What a trip.

[@ourseon2577]

great work as always. cant believe you girls dont have more subs

[@Transparencyboo]

Thank you, we'll try to get more!

[@1BlueYoshi]

Well this video went straight into my favorites. Before I thought there was no reason for anyone to talk about Pokemon Channel, but now I'm wondering why it has never been talked about like this before

[@Transparencyboo]

It is basically one of our goals to try our best to have at least something unique and different to add to the discourse. Pokémon Channel just happens to be a quite strange and interesting game. I think a lot of people just glance over it because of it mostly just being a kids game, and the fact that its not very well remembered or reviewed. But that just inspire us more, haha. So if you like that, tag along for more I guess :)

[@Lukz243]

I'm very glad seeing both Kiki and Alicia presenting the video

[@Transparencyboo]

Glad you do, it means a lot 🧡

[@pap64]

My best friend of over twenty years said it best; Pokemon is one of the few video game franchises that makes you have a deep, emotional connection with cute creatures that, at the end of the day, are just zeros and ones in a big programming spread, coded so it follows commands based on player input, and the better it does that the more satisfying it is. Yes other franchises inspire something similar like Super Mario, but Pokemon just seemingly nails that. We forego the idea that these creatures don't exist and are merchandise ploys because they bring us that much joy. I think no other monster collecting franchise has ever achieved that. Pokemon Channel illustrates that ideal well and this essay was thought provoking in the right ways!

[@Transparencyboo]

Thank you for the thoughtful comment, glad you liked the video 🧡

[@Autumn-Muse]

I loved this presentation. Hope to see more of you both in future projects.

[@Transparencyboo]

Thank you! Kiki will return for sure!

[@FrokenKeke]

Big apologies for being so bad at Pop'n Music.

[@Transparencyboo]

You tried

[@nautil_us]

Love the vibe of this video! I did not know the game but i love the art direction of it!

[@Transparencyboo]

All the vibes

[@robodress4051]

So wonderful to see Kiki onscreen! She is super cool and I hope she presents more in future videos >:3 As for the analysis, I really appreciate your focus on the legacy of "television." I think we tend to buy into the idea that the bygone age of "television" is over, and that we now live in the sci-fi future world dominated by streaming and the internet... which is still being predominantly controlled by a similar handful of corporations with the result being a lot of the same issues, lol. I think there's still a lot of much-needed criticism about how mass media in all its forms promotes passivity and discourages imagination, particularly forms of creativity and play that allow us to escape the types of doomscrolling habits that make us believe everything is horrible and there's nothing we can do about it. Video games are absolutely still a part of this too - I think your observation that video games are a form of "television" could be a valuable critique to make people consider the medium from a much broader perspective... ie, sure, most of us would consider Pokemon Channel quite barebones compared to "good" video games, but how different is it really from most of the games that get lauded every year as GOTY, where the whole point is simply to devour all of its content until its depleted? How many of us fundamentally approach video games as a kind of "television," a distraction occupying us while we wait to die, rather than as a meaningful extension of ourselves? Is there something meaningful in how Pikachu interacts with the TV, how they are simply content to play around with the buttons, skipping channels, completely unconcerned from any notions of "progress?" Anyways, side note. All of this makes me think a lot about discourse these days surrounding social media, the whole "all kids these days want to do is stare at their phones!1!" It's particularly ironic when it's boomers/Gen X saying it when they were literally the ones to grow up with television. Fools! *We've all been Pokemon Channeled.*

[@masterolimario]

I can't help but shake the feeling I now want to buy Pokémon merchandise from a Squirtle in cool shades in real life.

[@Transparencyboo]

So many Pokémon cards to get, collect them all!

[@DoneRandomLee]

I really enjoyed seeing both of y'all give your opinions on the game and all the little jokes from the channels you are scrolling through. I am always going love the news channel of this game because Psyduck, someone who is confused and often annoyed if not angry is perfect when I think of news. Plus this is the most active game role Maddie blaustein had for Meowth so good on trans Meowth for this game

[@Transparencyboo]

Glad you liked it! We really enjoy hearing people appreciating all the details we put into these videos. Its a lot of hard work, haha.

[@Whoknows-c8w]

Not related to the actual video, just wanted to say that I LOVE Kiki’s necklace! It’s beautiful

[@Transparencyboo]

Aw, thank you :)

[@kanekisaragi8784]

Thank you both for making another fantastic video ^^ 💖

[@Transparencyboo]

And thank YOU for watching

[@pchurch692]

Thanks for the consistently great content! Really thought provoking.

[@Transparencyboo]

And thank you for your continued watching 🧡

[@elenaschmidt9476]

That was delightful! The part about whitnessing someone playing the game really got to me, like that's such a surreal moment!

[@Transparencyboo]

It was a very fun part to put visuals to as well :)

[@nichtschwert3307]

Very magical one once again! Kikiface good. Always nice to see. Loved the cool double-feature conceit. Feels quite natural. I also feel very seen. Pokémon is just always on the periphery of my mind and everytime I notice that, it gives me pause and makes me wonder if it's healthy to be thinking about a bunch of games I don#t even like THAT much so often. But damn if those lil critters aren't dang cute and a really easy conversation topic to fall back on..

[@Transparencyboo]

Kikiface IS good!

[@milesseawind]

It was nice seeing both of you❤

[@Transparencyboo]

Nice to see you too, Miles! :)

[@milesseawind]

@@Transparencyboo 😮 thanks 👉👈🦝

[@rotomfan63]

I find it interesting how Seaman on the Dreamcast did a simular real life time passing thing, but meant at with a far more artsy touch. Tying directly into the themes of the game and the weird scientific but also mystic and surreal vibes surrounding everything about that game. I genuinely think if they ported it and toned down the uncanny valleyness and somehow get around the haha funny sex name that game might get a real re appraisal in hiw Johnny General public sees that game.

[@Transparencyboo]

I kind of think that he needs to be uncanny though. I think that's not just a product of the time, but genuinely part of the point of why he looks like that. Not sure if they could ever clean up the quirks enough to ever make it have a general audience appeal, haha.

[@rotomfan63]

@Transparency True. But I think just human face on fish is enough. I was more referring to how hotribly aged the facial animations are. And even if it never went to the mass market, I do think there is definitely a niche of artsy dorks like me who are insanely intrigued by the game. Plus, PCs are probably the best system to play it on. Something you already use almost every day, so you can check up on him while you are already there. Almost all the controls were the mic and a cursor, real-time clock, and the like. Plus, games that niche often do best on PC. Another thing they would have to update is some of the dialogue about stuff like TV and the internet, which are very clearly of their time.

[@RR-hl6zi]

I love the double feature! Also love the section with Kiki, it was wonderful. ❤

[@Transparencyboo]

Thank you! 🧡

[@jadefae]

*Dicaprio pointing meme*: IT'S KIKI!!

[@Transparencyboo]

Our favourite!

[@Sincald]

I, too, was convinced to buy this by the promise of Jirachi. I did also enjoy my time with the game, because I was like 11 and still extremely into pretty much anything Pokemon related haha

[@Transparencyboo]

Pikachu is a charming fella after all.

[@ParmMannREBORN]

I don't know how this video ended up in my recommended but I'm glad it did

[@Transparencyboo]

Glad to have you :)

[@MatthewArrowood]

Love when Kiki reads! Great video around the bleak consumer culture of da Pokemons.

[@Transparencyboo]

Kiki is our favourite!

[@nicholaszacharewicz693]

Pokemom Channel was never for me, but I enjoyed hearing your perspectives on this obscure piece of the Pokemon Multimedia Empire. Thanks!

[@Transparencyboo]

I don't quite remember getting it, which should tell you how unremarkable it was to me. However I did get two Jirachi from it and trained them to level 100, and the fact that I remember that more is kind of sad, haha.

[@erato4362]

nah uh, i dont believe theres only 17% women watching Transparency. i suspect something is up over at youtube HQ...

[@Transparencyboo]

Men simply love us.

[@Tesseract_King]

Also surprised that "user specified gender" is less than 1%?? Us enbies can't be that dang rare around here.

[@halfmoon4163]

@@Transparencyboo I'm a man and I can confirm with TANGIBLE EVIDENCE AND REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE that this is true.

[@Transparencyboo]

@@halfmoon4163 Proof

[@mikhaelgribkov4117]

I love Salazzle, she is neat. But Mismagius is so cute and I loved her design since watching Pokemon as a kid on totally legal sites. I was fourth generation kid with Jetix.

[@Transparencyboo]

VERY neat

[@mikhaelgribkov4117]

@@Transparencyboo you can say..... Nice😜

[@marktreerng]

Great analysis of the whole culture around this game, very interesting. Got mine in my 30s just to RNG manipulate a shiny Jirachi. Gave me some "goal" to play for. Gave me a chuckle now and then, but so very very gotta buy them all! (Edit: Also TEDDI URSA!)

[@Transparencyboo]

TEDDI!

[@nova338]

I wont lie, I absolutely loved this game as a kid and have nothing but positive memories with it. I will admit, I was not even 10 years old playing it, but this game really did click with me. I was very disapointed by Hey You Pikachu because the game straight-up didnt work, but Pokemon Channel didnt have that problem! I lived and breathed pokemon as a kid, and I would constantly imagine living in the Pokemon world. A pokemon life sim was exactly what I wanted, and this game definitely satisfied my young self. Pichu was my favorite pokemon at the time, so i watched the Pichu Bros videos an untold amount of times. I loved playing the Pokemon trivia with Pikachu, hearing the silly news with Psyduck and Meowth... I even convinced my mom to let me sleep with the Sleep Channel all night because that's how badly I wanted to be in the Pokemon world. i didnt care how mundane it seemed-- the fact that it was Pokemon made me happy. And the Shopping Channel... Omg I loved it so much. Such a rush of seeing a new plushy i hadnt seen or fun new TV set, but especially the Pokemon Mini games! Anyway, I'm rambling at this point but hearing such a cynical take on this game really surprised me. To me, this game was the perfect, silly little mundane Pokemon life sim. But you're right, this game is just a huge commercial. But it wasnt enough for me as a kid-- I remember being disappointed I couldn't actually own Pokemon Nice Cards. I specifically remember being bummed that they didnt sell Pokemon Plushies with the distinctive stitch lines. I didnt want a toy that looked like a pokemon. I wanted a toy that looked like a toy *from the pokemon world.* Clearly I was the exact demographic for this game. To the point of the video, this game does depict a consumerist hellscape based around Pokemon for Pokemon's sake. But idk, it was a beautiful thing to me as a kid. Yeah, Pokemon is capitalist corporation trying to get me to buy stuff. But it was also something that sent my young mind and imagination into overdrive. I didnt even own a ton of pokemon toys or anything (they were hard to find in my small town), but the pokemon world was somewhere that i'd constantly escape to. My happy place. And yeah, it's a product. Yeah, they swindled me into buying the newest entries. But it made me happy. So even if it was a manipulative cash grab, i dont regret my time with Pokemon Channel.

[@Transparencyboo]

And I suppose this is the beauty of the game. Like we said - we can read it all kinds of ways. I actually remember when I was in my 20s I replayed the game after Colosseum and XD and felt like Pokémon Channel was so calm and relaxing after the relentless battles in the other Gamecube titles. My opinion has changed a lot throughout the years, gone all over the place, and even now I can't quite tell you were I stand. It's pretty fantastic, haha.

[@raphaelmarquez9650]

To be fair, it was worth getting Jirachi from this game at the time because it's one of those mythical Pokemon like Mew, which are Pokemon that aren't available in the mainline games, and you can only get them through either cheat devices or special events that, at the time, were at certain states. So if you were a kid who loves Pokemon but didn't live in any of those states, then you're out of luck. Jirachi is also one of the best non-broken Pokemon in Gen 3's competitive metagame, and Psychic/Steel was one of the best type combos until they got rid of Steel's Ghost and Dark type resistances in Gen 6 onwards. Now Jirachi is currently a low tier Pokemon. I got suckered into downloading Pokemon Unite (I wasn't planning to get it until gets a physical release) because of the limited time Zeraora, another of those aforementioned mythical Pokemon, and I wasn't sure if that was the only chance you could get it through the game's lifespan. And now I'm trapped playing this game every day because of the daily missions required to grind for its in-game currency.

[@Lambda3141]

I had only vaguely heard of this game, and had no idea of its actual contents. What a strange experience of a game! I would have hated it as a kid, but it DID spawn this entertaining hour-long video.

[@jjthepikazard212]

transparency + pokemon = w video

[@Transparencyboo]

Transparensmon

[@shonwolfbark]

i feel calledout as i was this with my to scale cubone plush

[@Transparencyboo]

You should show it in the Discord. Would love to see it.

[@golgarisoul]

33:55 omg! You got that PS1 drum n bass recommendation, too? It's some good stuff!

[@Transparencyboo]

I don't know what you mean, haha, but thank you 🧡

[@ameliajohnson1726]

a secret pokemon channel challenge run nestled into some great analysis lmao

[@ameliajohnson1726]

Also, the bit around 50:55 feels like talking about how to explain the allegory of the cave to a mouse and a toddler simultaneously (pikachu and the player)

[@Transparencyboo]

The challenge run was a fun concept, very silly but with an interesting point too. Also, thanks for the allegory of the cave thing, that made me laugh.

[@jjh01harmon38]

Pokemon is inside my TV!!!!

[@Transparencyboo]

151 of them!

[@WannabeMarysue]

How did they get on your TV? Did you poke 'em on?

[@Transparencyboo]

@@WannabeMarysue Love it, haha

[@wusstunes]

As a voluntary millennial, Pokemon I really liked Pokemon channel when it came out, but felt kind of ripped off when it ended in a few days. It seemed like an animal crossing take on Pokemon that could have been really cool. When I got the game the store bundled it with a real Pokemon mini and that was probably the most fun part of the game.

[@Transparencyboo]

Pacman!

[@autumnwyvern489]

the casual dismissal of hey you pikachu is especially funny to me because that game? i BEGGED my parents for it. Every store that had a demo or display around it I lost my mind. I would have done anything for the special blue n64 (even though the one we had was perfectly fine!) and you know what? I never got my hands on that game. In a silly little sense, breezing past it as just a footnote for how we got to Channel is just another step in me getting denied the funny game about talking to pikachu. Oh and my favorite pokemon is Appletun

[@Transparencyboo]

It's funny, because the idea was basically that we would pretend that the American version doesn't exist just for a goof. We played a bit of the Japanese version though, and managed to navigate pretty well with some simple phrases. It's a very simple game, but nontheless pretty interesting. If you can I'd suggest emulating it. Might have to do some trickery with the microphone functions, but Google is your friend in that case. Should be pretty easy to find some extension for it :) Sorry we had to deprave you of the joys of Pikachu Genki Dechū once again. 🧡

[@Namadu7]

As a huuuge Pokémon fan (and/or addict?), this was a very good watch! Lots of neat perspectives to really make me think of what I really do get out of my time with Pokémon, and what its owners get out of me. I never played Pokémon Channel as a teen, but... I gotta wonder what I would have thought of it if I had. xP

[@unbelievable.coupons]

Wonderful words about art! Teddiursa mention.

[@Transparencyboo]

TEDDIURSA!

[@SocraTetris]

Real talk, i thought the Jirachi bonus that I got from (I think it was the entei movie and not Pokemon channel) was one of he coolest things. I had something similar with Celebi. This is why those two are my favorite pokemon.

[@Transparencyboo]

Just wish they didn't sell full price video games as the only method of obtaining it (in Europe at least). It's awfully scummy to me.

[@sefxodyssey]

pikachu has taken my life savings and inheritance

[@Transparencyboo]

That silly little rascal!

[@kriskenard]

This is exactly what I needed

[@Transparencyboo]

You're welcome

[@mikhaelgribkov4117]

Yeeah, subtitles!

[@Transparencyboo]

We do our best.

[@zoereidinger]

Watched this after watching ( and loving) the Barbie movie and it's making me have complicated feelings.

[@Transparencyboo]

Ah, yeah, I can see that because of the brand and all that. Interesting. Really curious to see that movie!

[@pizzalover9932]

I watched and enjoyed this whole video, but I still intend to dedicate a portion of my paycheck to buying Pokémon products for the rest of eternity

[@Transparencyboo]

That fair, haha

[@quarium5681]

This video would be excellent for an out of context compillation, from straight matter of fact to deeply intertwitned social commentary

[@Transparencyboo]

Thank you, haha.

[@Furore2323]

Welcome to the other side of the camera, Kiki.

[@Transparencyboo]

Thank you~

[@zack2544]

it is time 👀

[@Transparencyboo]

About time too!

[@solthas]

love the kiki time

[@Transparencyboo]

Everyone loves Kiki!

[@gregorycarlson6445]

I love Dunsparce. He's such a little weirdo and I'm endlessly fascinated by his many idiosyncrasies

[@PanthalassaRo]

Just started watching, that Gameboy color is gorgeous!

[@Transparencyboo]

Thank you! Finally had a reason to show it off :)

[@cgoldhaber]

transparency merch when?

[@Transparencyboo]

We have been thinking about it, although not sure what exactly it would be. Also, it feels a bit self-indulgent to us personally, like we're a bit too small to put something like that out there, haha.

[@svdden_dread]

I learned about your channel(safe haven😍) from Evelynn (i am error) and I feel so sad that I hadn't noticed your channel before 🥺🥺

[@Transparencyboo]

Well now you know, so better late than never as they usually say :)

[@svdden_dread]

I couldn't agree more 😁😁@@Transparencyboo

[@jemolk8945]

What a weird game. The analysis is also interesting and fun. I mean, it always is here, but I figure I should probably mention it. I'd never even heard of Pokemon Channel before. Dropped off of Pokemon around Gen 2. I still have lots of fond memories (and some less fond ones), and it was what got me into video games in the first place, but I haven't been actually invested in Pokemon in ages. I can't seem to stick with a single game consistently at all, so the ones that keep some hold on me are the ones that are easy to drop and then come back to, without pressure to keep going or to maintain a file or collection. Pokemon is not that. There's just so much to accumulate that it leans hard on my compulsive completionism to keep me playing, and then when I get burnout, I just don't come back. Sort of like Animal Crossing and every MMO I've ever tried playing, honestly. Not that this prevents me from being ensnared long-term in predatory capitalist recurrent spending loops, mind. I mean, I play Magic, of all things, and have been doing so for about ten years now. Ouch. Anyway... favorite Pokemon? How can anyone pick just one? Just off the top of my head, and with everything after Gen 2 off the table, a list of favorites, for various reasons, includes Unown, Dragonite, Gyarados, Mew, Pikachu, Articuno, Charmander, Lugia, Vaporeon, and Slowpoke. Quite a swath, I'd say. All of them look cool, of course. Mew and Unown appeal for the "ancient archaeology mystery" aspect. Gyarados is great for the fun of taking an absolutely useless Pokemon that can't even attack at all (Magikarp) and becoming a powerhouse. Dragonite is a dragon, so that's cool, and the doofy wings are really funny to me. Lugia and Articuno are reclusive legendaries that have a degree of mystery to them as well. Charmander is best starter. Cute, firebreathing lizard that turns increasingly into a big angry dragon. Pikachu and Slowpoke are really cute and iconic as well. And Vaporeon just has a really awesome design. My least favorite is easier. Abra. Not for any design reasons, just because I have bad memories of trying to catch the annoying teleporting little bugger. I dunno if it's different in more recent games, but at the time at least, its only move was Teleport, so it'd instantly flee every time, and being fast meant it'd even go first a lot of the time IIRC. Cool in concept, massive pain in practice.

[@Transparencyboo]

Glad you liked it, we always love hearing that our weird analysis are fun and interesting! Vaporeon is a top tier Pokémon, that probably was my favourite back when Red and Blue came out.

[@mikhaelgribkov4117]

"The game had the sane developer, Ambrella" sure makes me just imagine the corporation from Resident Evil somehow managing to use data from this games for better virus.

[@Alkimodon]

Thank you so much for your words and work!

[@MrRaivokasMagma]

So this game is hell on Earth?

[@Transparencyboo]

A reflection of our reality :)

[@Aviplotbunny]

I never got the chance to play Pokémon channel but man was this a ride

[@pokepress]

From what I understand, this game was in fact targeted at the age demographic that was “not ready” for the main Pokemon games. In practice, it becomes a grab bag of content that, at least at the time, didn’t seem to have anywhere else to go.

[@kindestegg9989]

oh i absolutely loved loved loved this one! this is such a fun deep dive and i always love how you bring that leftist highly critical lens to it!!! and its great seeing more of the two of you working together, i always knew you were a duo but i do understand that you wanna make it more clear!!! really did love both of your parts!!!!! specially the whole art critique parodyyyy hehe

[@urgeintheicebox]

Oh no! The episode cover scheme has been violated!

[@Transparencyboo]

It's still in the television, hehe.

[@Time_pug]

Jättebra video! Min favorit Pokemon är Eevee.

[@Transparencyboo]

Bra val!

[@Ancusohm]

I had never heard of this game. Wow. It is a weird one.

[@Transparencyboo]

It is!

[@imogenmangle]

Channel that has hundreds of thousands of subscribers.... to me

[@Transparencyboo]

We wish, haha 🧡

[@ghost-foxie]

ah, the insane addiction me and my friends had to pokémon when we were children

[@Transparencyboo]

The first generation was really wild, everyone were into it in some shape or form. The closest we have come to it again was the first wave of Pokémon Go.

[@Furore2323]

Who is Sausageman.

[@Transparencyboo]

It's my Raichu in Pokémon Red of course. A legend.

[@Furore2323]

That's neat, I just always thought Sausage was a girl's name, still learning new things every day..

[@HeroOfLegend115]

metroid dread in the trash lol

[@Transparencyboo]

😈

[@mikhaelgribkov4117]

@@Transparencyboo hmmmm, I love pettiness towards companies.

[@Transparencyboo]

@@mikhaelgribkov4117 It's funny too because we don't even necessarily dislike Dread. It's just complicated, haha.

[@jamesbrincefield9879]

You’re the one who made an hour long video essay so maybe you know better than I do, but I bought this back in the day specifically for Jirachi and I distinctly remember it being cheaper than a regular GameCube game. My parents were nice people and all, but they wouldn’t have bought me a full-priced GameCube game out of the blue. There had to have been some kind of value proposition that caused them to agree to buy it. Their love for me tended to top out around $20-30 dollars at a time.

[@Transparencyboo]

From what we've heard it was discounted in the states, but not in Sweden where we live.

[@MTGJoeD]

teddiursa snoot squad

[@FrokenKeke]

TEDDI

[@Transparencyboo]

@@FrokenKeke URSA!

[@Lexithepoptart]

I have never heard of this game but I was dialed in for this entire video. Your commentary never disappoints :D

[@Transparencyboo]

@@Lexithepoptart Thank you, glad you liked it 🧡

[@trailblazerist]

this channel is so schizophrenic for no reason, i love it

[@mikhaelgribkov4117]

WAIT, TBSKYEN is here? 1:02:11

[@Transparencyboo]

We love TB!

[@ViLLA1NYyy]

AL Gore's rhythm.