Being Self-Taught

My passions and hobbies are some of the key components that make up my personality. I find joy in discovering a new hobby and exploring its varying intricacies. I’m a really big music guy. I love discovering new songs and genres, and more importantly, I love to play it. I have some experience being a DJ, playing the bass, and playing the drums. The catch is I learned how to do these things on my own! The art of self-teaching is formally known as Autodidacticism and those who practice it are called autodidacts. I hope to share what I learned, how I learned it and some general tips and tricks.

I’d like to start off by saying I don’t consider myself a genius with natural talent when it comes to these hobbies. I’m no Skrillex on the DJ platter, or Victor Wooten on the bass, or even Andrew Neiman on the drums (from the movie Whiplash). I’m just a guy who likes to play!

So where should you start? I think the best place to start is to observe the masters of the craft you want to learn, such as the big names I listed earlier. This goes beyond just watching Youtube tutorials and how to’s. While they are helpful and I do recommend them, going the extra mile will only boost your knowledge further. Try to learn how they approach their craft and their thought process when going into things. Watch their movements, what their hands are doing and try to mimic it. While it may feel unnatural to mimic someone else’s style, overtime you’ll begin to understand why it works for them and how to make it your own. It may come as no surprise, but the biggest roadblock to teaching yourself something new is, well, yourself. Yes, very obvious, but it's true. Your own motivation and will is what will propel you. But I get it, it's hard to find motivation to continue when you’re not the best at it yet. There were many times where I wanted to give up completely because I wasn't at the level I wanted to be at. The key to combating this is setting small goals you can complete at a reasonable pace. This will give you the satisfaction of completing it while also measuring your progress. 

Doing these things are a great base to start on when taking on a new hobby. With consistency and dedication, you’ll be up to speed in no time!

Pokémon TCG Pocket. The Next Pokémon Go?

The world is no stranger to the miniature monsters you can capture called Pokémon. The franchise steadily gained traction after its release of the original games back in 1996 with constant release of content and games over the years. A major breakthrough for the franchise was its release of the game Pokémon GO. A game focused on bringing these whimsical creatures into the real world.

While the huge hype surrounding Pokémon GO has died down, a new Pokémon game is quickly breathing new life into the brand, Pokémon TCG Pocket. This game is completely different from Pokémon GO. As its name suggests, the game is a scaled down version of the already popular trading card game that you can play on mobile. Players are able to open booster packs containing different Pokémon cards, create decks, and use them to battle others. The game heavily leans on the collecting aspect of gameplay, aiming to recreate the adrenaline rush of opening a real pack of Pokémon cards. Right now, you can choose to open packs from 3 sets, each containing their own cards. There are 226 cards available to collect (with more on the way!), each with their own rarity and effects in battle. With that many cards, there are hundreds of different combinations of Pokémon you can take into battle keeping you always on your toes. With a simple but addictive gameplay loop based around an already beloved trading card game and franchise, it is no wonder why it has hit 60 million downloads already.

I can openly admit that I am one of the 60 million, playing everyday (and sometimes in class). While I do enjoy the game very much, there are some aspects that could be changed. One of them in particular is the amount of currency in the game. There is a currency type for about every reward you can purchase. There is one for opening packs (Hourglasses), one for the shop (Shop Tickets), one for event items (Event Tickets), etc. You also receive each of these currencies in a different way. It can get a bit annoying going from menu to menu in order to convert the currency and get what you want. For example, you can get shop tickets from completing quests, then you can use those tickets in the shop to buy hourglasses, then you can use those to open a new pack. This is way too long of a process that can just be simplified by having 1 or 2 currencies in the game. Another gripe I have is a lack of a ranked system in battle. This allows players to be more competitive in the game and gives satisfaction in climbing the ranked ladder. While there are battle events that can give rewards based on performance in battle, they do not last forever. 

These are just minor downsides of the game that I noticed and only slightly impedes my enjoyment. Maybe they will be addressed in the future, but in the meantime, I’ll be busy catching ‘em all!