First Pokemon Memories: Corey

[Crossroads Bulletin]

It was on this day twenty years ago when a game about battling, collecting and trading little monsters came out in Japan on the Gameboy. It didn’t took off at first but because of a few little hidden gems in the code the game took off. Eventually this little game shipped out to lands far off with an anime, trading card game and manga. This game touched the hearts of millions around the world and helped shaped the lives of many by forming friendships and bonds. Twenty years later, this series is still strong with huge plans on the horizon and asking us to train on.
We call this series Pokemon.
Today in honor of Pokemon’s 20th anniversary, we are going to spotlight our PCBL Staff member Corey’s first Pokemon memory. Pokemon has been with Corey for almost all their life since the age of two. Corey went from playing Pokemon from his father’s lap to holding his very own Pokemon game. It is because of Pokemon being with Corey for so long that we are sharing his story with you. So please read below and see how Pokemon has grown with Corey.

I have vivid memories of me playing Pokemon, but since I pretty much just played and did whatever without thought until I started planning teams with HGSS, so I can only remember playing them and not specific events/what I did. I used to watch my dad play when I was really young, and his Gold team was for me and I chose all the Pokemon (and they eventually became my HGSS team). I was two years old, so I wasn’t cognitively developed enough to play for myself, but I could pick out the cutest Pokemon! Poor old dad had to raise a Dratini from the Dragon’s Den because I chose it. Before that, I’d watch my dad and older brother play Generation I games (he was two when Gen I came out in America so my dad did that same thing for him as he did for me with Gen II). I was really young, though, so I don’t remember what I say I just know I did it. By the time Gen III rolled around, I was generally old enough to play for myself (I was five), but I don’t really remember playing Ruby as much as I remember playing Emerald when I was seven (albeit aimlessly). My brother got woke at Gen III just as I did with Gen IV, which explains why he liked RSE/ORAS so much and I didn’t really like it at all (I don’t think I would’ve liked DPPt so much if I didn’t have my “Pokemon awakening” then, because it’s so similar to Gen III). Speaking of, I remember being mad because my brother found a Shiny Gulpin in RSE and I had never found a shiny.
My parents bought my brother and I a lot of Pokemon toys when the Pokemon craze was going around. The reason I first got into Pokemon was because my dad played (he stopped after Gen II, though). I also remember telling my parents about a Pokemon Gold and Silver commercial I saw. And, of course, my brother and I would wake up early in the morning to watch Pokemon before school! Lastly, I know my first Pokemon plush that I got for myself from Pokemon Center was Celebi. I have a lot of good memories with Pokemon!

Feel free to share your first Pokemon memories in the comments or visit our First Pokemon Memories thread on our forums.
Happy Pokemon Day.
The post First Pokemon Memories: Corey appeared first on Pokémon Crossroads.


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[Neo Emolga]

@Corey

You definitely need to try and get your dad back into it. :P

I liked the part where your dad had to raise a Dratini. Was he allowed to evolve it to Dragonite or did he have to go through the Elite Four with just the Dratini? Either way, it's a cool first Pokémon memory, and I think if I were to ever become a dad, I think I'd try to get my kids into it. It's a great series of games and fandom for anyone of any age.

[Corey]

@Corey

You definitely need to try and get your dad back into it. :P

I liked the part where your dad had to raise a Dratini. Was he allowed to evolve it to Dragonite or did he have to go through the Elite Four with just the Dratini? Either way, it's a cool first Pokémon memory, and I think if I were to ever become a dad, I think I'd try to get my kids into it. It's a great series of games and fandom for anyone of any age.

I've tried, actually! A while back, my brother and I started Gen I together (I had Red and he had Blue). We gave my dad Yellow to play while he was camping, but he ended up flipping the canoe and getting the Gameboy and Yellow pack wet...So I didn't trust him with them after that. :L

He raised Dratini to a Dragonair before the Elite Four, and it evolved while he was at the Elite Four! He didn't mind grinding, apparently, as all the Pokemon were around level 50 (in my recent Gold run, the highest I had was a level 39 when I beat Lance)! Until recently I used the team I picked out all those years ago, but I moved Dragonite and Jolteon to my Gen I team and replaced them with Kingdra and Espeon because I wanted to have all Gen II Pokemon on the team (I usually only use region-exclusive Pokemon for all games).

[Neo Emolga]

I've tried, actually! A while back, my brother and I started Gen I together (I had Red and he had Blue). We gave my dad Yellow to play while he was camping, but he ended up flipping the canoe and getting the Gameboy and Yellow pack wet...So I didn't trust him with them after that. :L

He raised Dratini to a Dragonair before the Elite Four, and it evolved while he was at the Elite Four! He didn't mind grinding, apparently, as all the Pokemon were around level 50 (in my recent Gold run, the highest I had was a level 39 when I beat Lance)! Until recently I used the team I picked out all those years ago, but I moved Dragonite and Jolteon to my Gen I team and replaced them with Kingdra and Espeon because I wanted to have all Gen II Pokemon on the team (I usually only use region-exclusive Pokemon for all games).

Oh snap! Yeah, I've tried canoeing and white water rafting. I could barely keep a can of beer in my hands while rowing, never mind a Gameboy. And yes, one of the canoes we had in our convoy of five flipped over also. Ah, the pleasures of camping trips :P

Still, in any case, it's cool your dad has played Pokémon at least once. Hopefully one of these days he can get back into it. Maybe even Pokémon GO could do it when that comes along, especially if he already has a smartphone.

[Corey]

Oh snap! Yeah, I've tried canoeing and white water rafting. I could barely keep a can of beer in my hands while rowing, never mind a Gameboy. And yes, one of the canoes we had in our convoy of five flipped over also. Ah, the pleasures of camping trips :P

Still, in any case, it's cool your dad has played Pokémon at least once. Hopefully one of these days he can get back into it. Maybe even Pokémon GO could do it when that comes along, especially if he already has a smartphone.

He's never flipped before and he had it in a water-resistant (not proof, apparently) case. Accidents do happen! Nothing a bag of rice couldn't fix. Both the GBC and Yellow pack still work! He didn't really seem too enthusiastic about playing it, though LOL.

Yeah, it's really cool! There are pictures of my dad, brother, and I on the couch watching him play. He does have a smartphone, but I just don't think he's interested in Pokemon anymore, unfortunately. He's also rather illiterate technologically - he's good with computers, but he can't work his smartphone to save his life!

[Chakramaster]

That's a great story. Hey, it's great your dad was able to play it with you. I only had my brother and a few friends that did. Now it's just a select few friends (aside from the friends I've got online that play).

I've only been canoeing once and I'm glad I or no one else flipped over because the water we actually canoe on had water moccasin in it (I remember even seeing some in the water at times. That's one thing I always worried about when carrying around my gameboy was getting it wet. Still today when I do happen to carry mine around I worry about it like if it were raining.

Who knows, maybe one day your dad will give it the benefit of the doubt again and enjoy it like enjoy it again. It's great to share great experiences with family. Well family AND friends of course.