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https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/new-species-of-cockroach-discovered-in-singapore-named-after-pokemon SINGAPORE - A new cockroach species has been found in a forested nature reserve in Singapore. Named after Pheromosa, a cockroach-like Pokemon that appears in the seventh generation of the video game series, the species was discovered through comparing differences between the male genitalia of specimens with its closest relative from Borneo, among other checks. Entomologist Foo Maosheng, who co-authored the finding, said: “There are some similarities between Pheromosa and the delicate cockroach that we found, such as having a long antenna, wings that mimic a hood and long slender legs. “Both my collaborator and I are Pokemon fans, so we thought, why not name it after a Pokemon inspired by a cockroach.” Entomology is the study of insects and their relationship to humans, the environment and other organisms. The discovery of Nocticola pheromosa, published in the Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology on Feb 27, marks the first time a cockroach from the genus Nocticola – which means fond of the night in Latin – has been found here. Mr Foo, a scientific officer at the National University of Singapore (NUS) Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, said: “There are very few studies done on cockroaches and termites, in part because they are less charismatic than bees, butterflies and beetles.” The cockroach’s identity was a mystery when a few male specimens were collected between 2016 and 2017 in a secondary forest in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve during an insect survey. “There were no formal records of the cockroach in Singapore,” said Mr Foo. “Since its DNA did not match any species recorded online, it does add to the suggestion that this species had not been formally documented.” Help arrived when Mr Cristian C. Lucanas, an entomologist from the UPLB Museum of Natural History in the Philippines and the study’s lead author, came across pictures of the species on The Biodiversity of Singapore website and contacted Mr Foo to help with his quest. Realising that the cockroach had not been scientifically documented before, Mr Lucanas decided to publish the findings after dissecting it. The new species joins 22 others from its genus, which has been found in tropical Africa, India, mainland Asia and South-east Asia as well as Australia. Unlike hardy American cockroaches, which most people tend to associate cockroaches with, Nocticola pheromosa is more delicate as those of its kind tend to live in well-protected ecosystems, said Mr Foo. But not much is known of the Singapore species, including where they came from. Nocticola pheromosa is more delicate as those of its kind tend to live in well-protected ecosystems. Unlike hardy American cockroaches, which most people tend to associate cockroaches with, Nocticola pheromosa is more delicate as those of its kind tend to live in well-protected ecosystems, said Mr Foo. But not much is known of the Singapore species, including where they came from. While some people might be averse to cockroaches, they can play a part in the ecosystem, he said. “A few forest cockroaches are pollinators and a handful do help with nutrient cycling. “Cockroaches do have a role but because of negative connotations and their appearance, they tend to be overlooked even during insect surveys.” Mr Foo’s love for all insects and Pokemon has earned him the moniker of “bug catcher” among his students at NUS and other entomologists. He said: “I’m like one of those bug-type trainers (in Pokemon) as I go to different places to find out more about what insects we have. “This contributes to the museum for research and education and The Biodiversity of Singapore website, which is kind of like our local Pokedex.” The Pheromosa cockroach joins several other creatures named after Pokemon. In 2021, three Australian beetles identified by their fiery colours were named after rare bird Pokemon Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres.

As the saying goes: You never forget your first. No, I'm not referring to George Washington's autobiography. I'm referring to our first experiences, be it love, job, car, or house, to name a few. And for me, Leaf Green was my first foray into the gaming world of Pokemon (as I've previously mentioned here). Don’t worry, this is more reminiscing and somewhat of a review - of which I feel I am entitled to, having registered over 500 hours of gameplay – and not a life lesson involving hatchets, cherry trees, and integrity. Whenever I see this image, I can hear the intro music in my head Leaf Green was released in 2004 (alongside its counterpart Fire Red) as GBA remakes of the 1996 Red and Blue versions, so it only seemed fitting that I also started out in the Kanto region like so many others before me. I believe it was my fascination of the ocean that swayed nine-year old me to pick Squirtle as my starter, thus kickstarting a love for the Water type (every other first playthrough of future games saw me pick the water starter with zero hesitation). And boy was the game fun. Picking a water type made the first gym a breeze (sorry Brock, Water Gun triumphs Rock Tomb) although I did lose my bearings in Mt Moon for a bit. I faced my first real test in Cerulean City, where Wartortle didn't fair too well against Misty's water types. However, the Pikachu I caught in Viridian Forest came in clutch. It was also here where I had my first real taste of capitalism, with the bicycle shop owner asking for a million Pokedollars for one of his two-wheelers. Blasphemy. Nine-year old me really wanted to join Team Rocket, but I reckon the data size and work required to script a whole new ending for the GBA game made it untenable. Still, glad (I'm being sardonic) to see Gamefreak has continued the "illusion of choice" farce in Legends: Z-A, because I really wanted an autograph from Canari It was also here where I came oh-so close to being a full-fledged Team Rocket member (Nugget Bridge, directly above Cerulean City), although it was just an illusion of choice (much like most of the dialogue and options in Legends: Z-A). I also helped out Bill at his cottage in Cerulean Cape and met the nice Day-Care couple on Route 5, who I unwittingly left one of my Pokemon with and promptly forgot until long after I became the Kanto champion. By then, I handed over 6,700 Pokedollars and got back my Level 73 Kakuna. Talk about getting too big for its boots, or in this case, exoskeleton. And so, my Kanto journey continued. I discovered Pokemon abilities the hard way (Dugtrio's Magnitude attack doing nish against Gastly thanks to Levitate), realised the importance of having a team that can dish it out against all types (I struggled against Sabrina's psychic attacks), and exercised patience (Seafoam Island's boulder puzzle was a little too much for nine-year old me). But the part I most enjoyed about Leaf Green? The post-game. You're a real one if you can name the islands based on their map layout, including the two "green" ones As previously mentioned, I have a soft spot for the ocean. That includes beaches, islands, reefs, etc. And the Sevii Islands were absolutely beautiful, to say the least. Gamefreak gave us a small taste when, after defeating Blaine, Bill takes us over to see his buddy Celio on One Island, where we subsequently gain access to Two and Three Island, chasing off a rogue biker gang and saving Lostelle from Hypno's paralysing gaze. And if you thought that was it, you're dead wrong. Upon defeating the Elite Four, Celio requests your help to find the Ruby and Sapphire (only if you have the National Dex), a reference to the GBA games released in 2003, but also to open up trading with Lanette in the Hoenn region. And so begins a chase that starts from One Island, where you discover remnants of Team Rocket attempting to steal the Ruby from a cave. Beat them, grab the shiny rock, and give it to Celio. However, the Sapphire is still out there, so Celio upgrades your Tri-Pass to a Rainbow Pass, giving you access to islands Four, Five, Six, and Seven. Four Island's BGM is a remix of the music used for Azalea Town and Blackthorne City, one of many post-game references to Johto Head over to Four Island, where one of my all-time favourite Pokemon BGM starts to play. Seriously, I once came here and left my Nintendo DS on for two hours just to hear the music (this was before smartphones and almost every household having access to the internet or a computer). A little sidetrack: I also love the BGM from Hoenn's Sootopolis City, Sinnoh's Eterna Forest, and Mystery Dungeon's Great Canyon. Wait, where was I? Right, Four Island. Soon, you find out that this is where Lorelei of the Elite Four lives. She's currently battling Team Rocket members – there to capture Pokemon for nefarious intentions – in the depths of Icefall Cave (you can also catch Sneasel here). Fight alongside her and defeat the grunts, who reveals that the Pokemon they caught are in the Rocket Warehouse on Five Island. The grunt then gives you one half of the password to the warehouse, proclaiming that you’ll never figure out the second half, and runs off with his lackeys. Exchange pleasantries with Lorelei and head back to the docks for your next destination. Five Island kind of feels like a vacation, with minimal battling, chill BGMs, and a poignant tribute to a beloved Onix One quick boat trip later, and you step onto the docks of Five Island. Surf is the main form of travel here, as there are a series of smaller islands dotted around. On one, a Pokemon Breeder gives you a mysterious egg, which hatches into Togepi. Rescue Lady Selphy from the Lost Cave and speak to her daily at her Resort Gorgeous villa for a chance to attain valuable rewards. And don’t forget to pay your respects at the Memorial Pillar, where a trainer's Onix, affectionately nicknamed Tectonix, lies. But this isn't where the Sapphire is located, so off you pop to Six Island. Six Island is pretty large, split into two halves and separated by water. The top half will take you through Water Path, Pattern Bush (where you can catch Heracross), and finally Altering Cave on Outcast Island, which only offers up wild Zubat. Pretty anticlimactic, right? Well, the wild spawns were officially meant to be altered via Mystery Gift, which would allow Johto-exclusive Pokemon like Houndour, Pineco, and Shuckle to be caught. Sadly, this data was never distributed. Ruin Valley sorta feels like a trip back into time, and true to its name, ruin-loving Pokemon like Natu call the place home The bottom half of Six Island contains the next part of the post-game progression: A long, sprawling canyon named Ruin Valley. And just like the other islands, Johto Pokemon can also be caught here, such as Natu and the iconic Wobbuffet. Make your way to the centre, where the Dotted Hole is located. Find another reference to the Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald GBA games here, as the entrance to the door is closed, with a three-letter word in braille plastered on the front door. Fortunately, it's a quick deciphering job, and you’re on your way down. Reach the bottom to find the Sapphire, but before you can do anything, a scientist appears and steals it with the intention of selling it to Team Rocket. He mocks you and gives you the second half of the warehouse password, proclaiming that you’ll never figure out the first half. Now where have I heard that before? He takes off, and now, armed with the full password, you're ready to kick Team Rocket’s behind once again. "Passwords at the ready" - Professor Oakgonagall Back you go to Five Island, where you're now able to unlock the door to the warehouse. And just like Team Rocket's hideout underneath Celadon City's Game Corner, there's a conveyor belt puzzle. Once you've figured it out, defeat the scientist who stole your Sapphire and take it back. He’ll also see your Earth badge, realise that you've defeated Giovanni, and disband Team Rocket's Sevii branch for good, vowing to rebuild the organisation and return one day. Since that's that for the post-game main quest, one can only assume that he failed. So where does that leave Seven Island? Well, if you're a fan of battling, you've found your home. Kanto's Trainer Tower is located in the upper section of the island, a short walk from the jetty. But if you want to do more side quests and get your hands on one of the most sought after Pokemon from Johto (Clue: Its final evolution has the Sand Stream ability), head down towards the Sevault Canyon. This place is littered with trainers carrying the highest level of Pokemon you can find anywhere else in the game (bar the Elite Four, obviously) and itching to battle, which makes it – combined with the VS Seeker's rematch capabilities – the best place to train up your Pokemon in preparation for the post-game Elite Four grind (The levels of the Elite Four's teams have gone up by at least 10, some with evolutions like Bruno's Onix to Steelix, so its not as easy as the first time). Will you test your mettle at the Trainer Tower or head towards Sevault Canyon to hunt for one of Johto's fan-favourites with a 5% encounter rate? No cap, I’ve spent much of my post-game journey here, getting my team to a high-enough level to then grind at the post-game Elite Four for that coveted Level 100 status, that I reckon I'd be able to name every single Pokemon that every single trainer in the canyon has. Nine-year old me actually found this puzzle pretty straightforward and simple This is also where you find the Tanoby Key, which is a key-shaped cave (duh) with boulders beside open holes in the ground. The obvious answer is to push them in, after which the ground rumbles and the distant sound of something unlocking can be heard. Make your way further down and reach a stretch of water that houses seven individual caves, known as the Tanoby Ruins. It is here where you can find all 28 iterations of the Unown Pokemon, and if you've done it in ascending order, the final side quest of Fire Red and Leaf Green's post-game content. The Pokemon Adventures manga bring a fresh perspective to the relatively tame games. Series 1 through 30 mostly covers Kanto, Johto, and Hoenn, so for gamers who are still very much in love with the older regions (I don't blame you because girl same), give it a read if you haven't yet The Pokemon Adventures story also features the Sevii Islands, but the plot plays out very differently. I suggest you give it a read (you should be able to find PDF copies online) if you want a bit more drama than the main games are able to provide. And while I do agree that Emerald is the overall best out of all the GBA games, the Fire Red and Leaf Green remakes have done Kanto justice, especially with its post-game content. But if you ask me what's the best remake overall? Heart Gold and Soul Silver, hands down. That's a story for another day. ~ Fremont (Images from Nintendo Life, Archive.org, YouTube, Twitter, Bulbapedia, PokeDream, and Pokemon Wiki)

For us 90s babies, the Holy Trinity of Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network formed a big part of our childhood. The internet was just about coming into fruition, with the rise of a plethora of websites with numerous entertaining flash games and of course, the early days of YouTube. And though those things have come and gone, one thing in my life remained constant: My love for Pokemon. I first got into Pokemon 20 years ago, and I remember exactly how it went down. Let me set the scene: My friends and I were sitting on the staircase steps of the corridor leading to the school hall in our primary school. It was a sunny afternoon in 2005. That year was pretty much life-changing for me: I got my own computer, got cable for the first time (goodbye Kids Central, hello Holy Trinity), and as per the story goes – got into Pokemon. My friend showed me a few Pokemon trading cards he had. I don’t exactly remember what they were, but I remembered I wanted to start collecting too, just to be a part of the trend. Spoiler alert: no regrets. You couldn't pay me enough to sell my childhood collection. It would be like losing a huge part of me. And thus began my foray into the hobby. I got my dad to buy me a Nintendo DS and my very first Pokemon game: Leaf Green (yes I know, I was late to the game). I begged and begged for him to buy me Pokemon cards. I saved up my allowance to grab the pre-built decks (I remember they were going for about $18.90) just for the EX chase cards. And slowly, my passion for the hobby grew. A year later, I had a binder full of amazing cards and all five GBA games for the Pokemon series (Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Leaf Green, Fire Red), all of which I still have with me today. Throw away a huge part of my adolescence? Blasphemy. Perish the thought. I stopped collecting the cards in 2007, although I still played the games. I got the Diamond and Pearl versions for the DS, but as a growing child, my focus quickly shifted to other games such as Counter Strike, Blackshot, and Soldier Front (you’re an OG if you remember this). However, Pokemon still remained a big, big part of me. I replayed the GBA games, I tried to get all my favourite Pokemon to Level 100, I beat the Elite Four over and over again just to try and hit personal milestones. The passion may have withered, but it never died. They're all still working perfectly. Fun fact: I've logged over 500 man hours on Leaf Green alone. But my passion ignited again in December 2023. My mum wanted to get me a Christmas present, so she asked what I wanted. I thought about it for a while, before deciding on a Nintendo Switch. And obviously there was only one game series I wanted to start with. With Eevee being my favourite Pokemon and Blastoise (Squirtle was my first ever starter) coming a close second, I chose Let’s Go, Eevee! as my first Pokemon console game in 16 years. And suddenly, the memories came flooding back. The wave of nostalgia hit like a truck. I felt like a kid again, carrying a handheld gaming console around and playing Pokemon on it. Back like I never left. And of course I had to buy the classic remakes first. I practically grew up on them. And so began the revival of a passion that just took an extended break. Mystery Dungeon came next (the remake of the DS game I also played 16 years back), with Legends: Arceus and Pokemon Scarlet following shortly after. I was back, I was hooked, and now I have adult money to fulfil the yearnings my inner kid never got to. Still, I didn’t think I’d get back into the trading card game (TCG), until the Twilight Masquerade (TWM) set dropped in May 2024. It featured a specialised Eevee artwork (known as an Illustrated Rare) and immediately I knew I had to have it. Out of impulse, I went down to the Pokemon Centre at Jewel and got myself a TWM booster box to try and pull it myself. Spoiler alert: I didn’t. But again, ripping the packs after almost two decades brought me back to my nine-year-old self ripping booster packs for the first time and getting so excited at whatever I manage to get, caring not for the rarity or the price, but because I pulled it myself. And so, I fell back in love with the TCG hobby. A year later. The binder purely contains Eevee singles, all different variations from different sets. The goal is to fill up all 360 slots. Slowly, but surely. Fast forward ten months. Yes, I managed to get the Eevee card I mentioned. And the Japanese version too. Oh, and both English and Japanese versions in PSA10 slabs too. Along with a binder with different Eevee cards. And numerous other Eevees in PSA10 slabs. Alongside other cards ranging from Full Arts to Special Illustrated Rares. I may have dropped quite a number of greenbacks on this hobby, but at the end of the day, what matters most is my happiness and the healing of my inner child. I’m going full geek but I don’t give a damn. I’m back, baby! ~ Fremont (Images by Fremont Seow, Facebook)

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jul/10/pokemon-go-armed-robbers-dead-body Pokémon Go is already responsible for armed robberies, the discovery of a dead body and injurieshttp://www.news.com.au/technology/home-entertainment/gaming/pokmon-go-is-already-responsible-for-armed-robberies-the-discovery-of-a-dead-body-and-injuries/news-story/e54b70e88fc88094329466616ab3c2a1 Even if it's not available here, it caused an idiot his job. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-36761331

Google Maps now lets you find and catch wild Pokémon April Fools’ Day has already arrived in Japan and as expected, Google has a deluge of jokes and Easter eggs to check out online. You can check out our constantly-updating list here. One of our early favorites is the new Pokémon Challenge for Google Maps which, at long last, lets anyone with a smartphone or tablet earn the all-important title of Pokémon Master. From an iOS or Android device, you simply need to launch the Google Maps app and tap the ‘Search’ option at the top of the screen. You’ll see a new ‘Press Start’ option and a blue Pokéball icon, signalling the classic quest that awaits every aspiring Pokémon trainer. In our quick playtest, Google bounced us across to the Pokémon Lab, suitably located at the CERN research facility in Switzerland. As you swipe around the map, you’ll see colorful sprites for individual Pokémon, which you can then catch and add to your Pokédex for safekeeping. There are some nice throwbacks to the original games too; the Pokédex has full artwork for each monster and when you tap on a Pokémon the classic phrase ‘a wild Pokémon appears’ is displayed prominently at the bottom of the screen. Here's a video