By Saniah Entienne 

This weekend in San Francisco, I became immersed in the world of Pokémon. I expected to come out learning more about Pokémon–and I did. But I also left with a new understanding of games. 

When brainstorming my thesis for this piece I grappled with several different ideas. The one that keeps coming back is centered around this long academic word. It’s called epistemology, which is basically the study of knowledge and ways of knowing. This weekend prompted me to think philosophically about what “Playing With Purpose” really means.

I knew I would have a good time at Pokémon XP and Worlds because I enjoy seeing people happy and Pokémon brings so much joy. But it’s deeper than that. Trainers don’t merely enjoy Pokémon because of the satisfaction it brings to win games. They fall in love with the world it creates. Videogames are systems of knowing. The system of knowing sounds academic but it simply just means they are ways we derive meaning. 

One thing that was striking to me was the amount of translators I saw, and the number of languages I heard being spoken. When Mr. Tsunekazu Ishihara, president of the Pokémon company, came out at the opening ceremony, I heard a man in Spanish exclaim “El Patron” in awe or “The Boss” in English. On the way back from the World Championships, Harold and I were on a bus with the EU media group. It was late and we were tired but they were full of energy and singing popular Italian songs. Now granted I had no idea what they were saying, but the camaraderie was undeniable. And whether it is English, Spanish, Japanese, Italian or French, Pokémon gives all a common language. Two people from opposite sides of the world can sit at a table and understand each other.

Pokémon XP did a great job at capturing Pokémon – not just as a game but as a culture. And that’s what set it apart. I asked Director of Esports Chris Brown the metrics for measuring success of Pokémon XP without just raw attendance. He said attendance actually isn’t the internal review measurement for success. The focus is on engagement and audience approval. When fans leave feedback, the Pokémon team takes this seriously. 

Fans were eager to be a part of these communal experiences. Over 50,000 people were in attendance for the days-long the event. Some of the lines were super long. Pokémon shut down the pin rally on the last day. I am not sure why, but I assumed it had something to do with safety or overloaded capacity. I added my name to interest lists for some fun activities like crocheting and cupcake decorating, but I was not randomly selected for any of them. This was disappointing but I still got to do other things like build a clay Pichu with creators from Aardman Animations (“Chicken Run” and “Wallace and Gromit”).

I also participated in a Lego Smart Brick activity. The Lego Pokémon Trainer Experience was really my favorite thing I did all weekend. I built a Lego trophy, then got to bond with, train and battle with my oversized Charmander. And my Pokémon won the battle! The smart brick is innovative and I know young Pokémon fans will find joy and express their creativity with it.  

One of my other favorite parts of the weekend was seeing the cosplay. One exceptional cosplayer from Hawaii made all her clothes from scratch. The passion I saw for the Pokémon universe as a first time credentialed reporter was undeniable. Other reporters mentioned that they attend Worlds almost every year, and they were very knowledgeable about the meta aspects of the competitions. Even Ed Sheeran made an appearance to close the show.

My first Pokémon World Championships were full of great competition. There was a very diverse group of competitors: From veterans versus new superstars to Cinderella stories and young players. All battled it out to become world champions. 

My first time traveling to XP and Worlds was really enlightening and came with some cool perks like watching all of the finals and getting insight from seasoned journalists. Ultimately, Pokémon’s longevity comes from the ever-expanding world and communities that it has created. I am incredibly grateful that I was able to be a part of it – even for a little while. 

Saniah Etienne is an NYVGCC senior intern who attended The Lab School in the Bronx and is currently in her second year at Howard University.

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