A busy (and hot) day at work today! I’m working on a lot of “utility” stuff in a new app. Things like caching data, saving data to the Keychain, encrypting/decrypting data, and doing this all in TDD. So my testing skills were getting a good workout.

I feel like this shouldn’t be included anymore, as I do it every day, but I watched a few more episodes of Lost again! I’m now halfway through episode 23 in Series 1, so that leaves me with list two and a half episodes left. I forgot how many episodes there were!

That wasn’t everything I did while looking at a screen though, as I got an email from the iTunes Affiliate Program team, about the minimum payment threshold. I shared this on my blog, I now consider the case closed. There’s not much else I can do or find out about this anymore.

Back in August last year, I shared some information about the minimum threshold, in regard to getting payments from the iTunes Affiliate program. The issue back then, was that as the app program was ending, any money sitting in currencies that were below the minimum threshold, would be forever stuck in limbo.

I was worried about this, so I asked the Affiliate Program team. They responded with some good news:

Regarding App Store commissions, we will waive the payment threshold requirement after the program change takes place in October. These payments will be available to you approximately 60 days thereafter with our regularly scheduled invoice cycle. You will be able to release these payments once they have been received by Performance Horizon and processed.

So the threshold would be lifted, and they also informed me that the payments should be all be released by mid-December. Perfect.

However, on Friday I decided to query them about this again. As I heard from yet another person saying that the threshold still seems to be there, and they cannot release any payments. Even though I’ve had some released myself, that would have previously been below the minimum.

This time, they came back with a very clear statement. Which I presume is directed towards the balances left in my own account:

At this time, all available currencies are below the absolute minimum 2 GBP threshold and cannot be released.

While they’re not saying that all money will be paid. I think it’s reasonably understandable that 2 GBP is a hard-limit. I can’t imagine after converting currencies, and then adding on fees for the actual payments, that it would be beneficial for anyone.

At least this case should now be closed.

Today started with me waking up at around noon. I honestly have no idea how I slept in that late. I must have had about 10 hours.

After I finally woke up, I made a beacon and cheese omelette for “breakfast”, and watched some Lost!

Then, at 4 pm, it was time for the most important part of the day. Arsenal were playing Southampton! It was a very impressive game, and we ended up winning 2-0. Which really doesn’t show how much Arsenal were dominating. On a good day, it could have been 5-0 or higher.

After that, me and my girlfriend got around to stripping the rest of the wallpaper from a room in our living room. Next, we’ll have to sand it down to make it smooth, fill in any holes, and decorate it!

After that, we both didn’t do much. We watched the latest episode of Call the Midwife, which I’m just as interested as my girlfriend is. And then I’ve just made myself lunch for tomorrow. I’m having spaghetti carbonara!

Finally, a day with good weather! There was a clear sky, the sun was out, and it was even a bit warm.

I took the chance to install a little bird feeder in our garden. It’s basically a vertical pole, with a few different attachments on it. And so far I haven’t actually seen any birds eating anything yet, but I wouldn’t say our garden is exactly attractive to animals. As it’s literally just a lawn of grass with a bird feeder. Not one bush. And the neighbours are similar.

Apart from that, I’ve done a few chores. While the sun was out, I went and posted some mail. Then I done the more boring tasks, like cleaning, laundry, etc.

It wasn’t all boring though, as I managed to fit in quite a few episodes of Lost, and some World of Warcraft!

I’ve now started to watch a film called Life, on Netflix. I’ve been waiting for it to be available for a while, and although I’ve only seen half of it so far, it’s certainly not what I expected it to be. It sounded like a peaceful film about emerging life, but it definitely isn’t!

I had a pretty good day at work today. We’ve started to use TDD for a new project, and I’m really enjoying it. Testing was never something I really liked to be honest, but I’ve got into a good flow with it. And I can already see the code quality benefits, and it’s pretty motivating to slowly see the number of tests increase.

While in my lunch break, I took the remaining screenshots needed for my Nintendo Switch/Pokémon review, and then published it! It’s one of my longest pieces of writing, and I’m pretty pleased with it. I certainly spent a lot of time on it.

I also ended up emailing Apple about the affiliate program. As back last year, they announced that the app affiliate program was ending, and I had a question about how they would handle the minimum threshold for releasing payments.

The issue stems from the way earnings are paid. They’re all into the currencies they were earned in, and the amount had to be over a certain threshold (£20 for me) to be paid. But I argued that since the thresholds would never be met, some earnings would be stuck. They reassured me that the threshold would be removed, and payments would be made in mid-December. I’ve had around 5 currencies paid out to me that were below the threshold, so I can tell something is happening. But I’ve still got money left, and I’ve heard that a lot of other people are having the same issue. So I’ve got in contact with them again, to see if they can finally clear it up.

I got my Nintendo Switch just 10 days ago. It’s the Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu edition. I have just that game for it, and I’ve been playing it pretty much non-stop since I’ve got it, and I thought I’d share my opinions so far.

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Contents

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The Nintendo Switch

The console overall feels like the ultimate Nintendo console. It’s perfectly capable of being a great handheld device, but also super easy to just place it in the dock and play games on a television. I especially like the controller combinations, as there are quite a few. You can simple attach the Joy Cons to the console, play with one/two separately, use the “dog ears” controller (I like that name so much, I’m not bothering to find out the official one), and even the Pokéball controller that came with my Switch.

It feels powerful, while also being really customisable, and flexible to your needs.

My Pokémon Background

I’ve been interested in Pokémon ever since I was a child, and to put it bluntly, I was obsessed. I watched every episode of the series, played every game, watched every movie, and had a ton of Pokémon toys. My first game was Pokémon Yellow for the GameBoy Color. It was released in the UK in the year 2000, just before my 8th birthday. I’m not too sure when I actually got the game myself, but I can imagine it was pretty near that date. I kept it on me at all times, and become pretty attached to it.

Of course, over the years I’ve grown to be slightly less obsessed with the franchise. But I still play all the games, watch all the movies, and try to watch some episodes of the tv series. I’ve also been a pretty regular Pokémon GO player since it was released a few years ago.

I’m a big fan.

Initial Reaction

When I first started hearing about the game I wasn’t sure about it. I remember people reporting that it would be very similar to the simple playing style of Pokémon GO, and I was not pleased about that at all. But there was an interview with two people from Game Freak that cleared up a few things, and reassured me a bit.

Then the videos started to come out and to be honest, I was still a bit unsure how the gameplay would feel, compared to the original games. The main questions I had were about how you caught Pokémon, not being able to battle with wild Pokémon, and that the randomness about finding Pokémon seemed to be ruined by your ability to see all the Pokémon walking in the grass before you even initiated anything.

However, when I first launched Pokémon, Let’s Go, I was pleasantly surprised. And all of my worries about the game instantly went away. It just felt as if it was a perfect evolution of the game series, and everything made sense. The artwork was brilliant, and I loved the initial introduction with Pikachu. While the map is the same, everything is brighter, in much more detail, and of course, it’s in all three dimensions! So even just exploring the map is fun.

Gameplay

Seeing Pokémon in the Wild

One of the biggest changes in the gameplay was that you now see wild Pokémon running around in the grass. Before playing the game I thought this was a terrible idea, after playing the game I now find it one of the best changes they made.

Turns out, seeing the actual Pokémon running around in their natural habitats is actually very enjoyable. And there’s a lot of fun to be had chasing down a Growlithe or swerving away from a Zubat. It doesn’t entirely mean that you will be able to see every Pokémon though, as I’ve had a few occasions where they’ve appeared right next to me, and started an immediate encounter. So there’s still some surprise-factor left in the game.

Catching Pokémon

Another thing that I thought would take some time adjusting to, was the new paradigm around catching Pokémon. Instead of the previous process, where you would encounter a Pokémon in the wild, battle it, and then lower its HP so you could catch it easier. You simply encounter a Pokémon, and you can start throwing Pokéballs at it!

There’s still a level of complexity to it though, as there are better Pokéballs you can use to have a better chance of capturing a Pokémon, and also berries. They were in previous games, but the actual implementation in this game comes from Pokémon GO. Each berry has its own benefit, and I think they work well. Especially the Nanab Berry, which when used, makes Pokémon move less and therefore easier to catch.

That also leads me into the thing I most enjoy about the new way to catch Pokémon. It feels a lot more realistic because some Pokémon move more than others, which may require you to move around to get a good shot. In general, it appears as if they’re acting with a level of personality. At least enough to distinguish behaviours between different types of Pokémon.

Comparison With the Original

Most of the game seems the same as the original Kanto games. But there’s a few changes and some improvements. Such as the music. It features the same melodies, but in much higher quality, and what feels like more depth.

The map is the same, or at least so far it seems to be. I can’t imagine there being major differences later on, but at least so far I’ve only noticed one small change. And that’s a little Meowth sleeping above an entrance to something.

The way HM (hidden machines) work is different in this game. And for me, the changes are very welcome. In the past, a HM was taught to a Pokémon as a move, so it would be available in battle. But of course, it would take up space. Now they’re taught to your partner Pokémon (Pikachu or Eevee) and are worded slightly different, with Cut being replaced by a Chop Down ability.

External TV

I know it’s a fundamental part of the Nintendo Switch, but I have to comment on the fact that it’s just so easy to dock the console and have it just continue on a television. Pokémon also runs perfectly, which I guess I shouldn’t be surprised by either.

This is the single way I charge the device as well. As I tend to only play it in handheld mode if I’m commuting, or if someone else is watching television, and I’m just sat on the sofa playing it. So I haven’t actually seen a low battery warning more than twice I think.

I also noticed that the graphics were slightly better on the TV, and since looking at the tech specs, I can see that the Switch can output 1080p to a TV, but the handheld screen is only 720p. It doesn’t detract from the handheld display though, as I find it absolutely perfect.

Playing a Pokémon game on a 50″ television is something that may sound a bit silly at first, but it’s a very fun experience!

Pokeball Controller

When I was looking to buy a Switch, this was something I honestly didn’t care for. As I expected it to be a “companion” controller, and would only add a minuscule amount of playability to the game.

I was proved wrong as soon as I started playing with it. Mainly because you can play the entire game with just the Pokéball, and even when it only has two buttons and a joystick!

There’s a lot of fun parts to it as well. It not only makes noises and vibrates as you play the game, but it also acts like a real Pokéball would do when you’re trying to capture a Pokémon. The lights flashes and changes colour like the one in-game, and it also makes realistic Pokéball noises.

It also comes with a Mew “inside”, which you can transfer immediately to the game!

My Overall Experience With How I’m Playing the Game

Okay, so you can probably tell that I’m really enjoying the game so far. But there are a few extra points that I’d like to make, that really add to how I played the game.

One thing I noticed, was that it seems as if there’s a more diverse selection of Pokémon that appear in the game. Of course, there’s still only the same 151 Pokémon, but they seem spread out a bit more. Maybe this is down to the fact that you “see” Pokémon before you start an encounter, and therefore are aware of it more. But it certainly adds to the realism aspect of the game.

Of course, you wouldn’t find a fish Pokémon running round in the grass, but I’ve seen Growlithe just south of Cerulean City, and also just north of Vermillion City, either side of the tunnel. That’s not something I’ve seen in previous games. I’ve also spotted Rhyhorn and Cubone in Rock Tunnel, which both surprised me! And I can’t remember where exactly, but I caught a Kangaskhan really early on, possibly in Rock Tunnel, but certainly before you get the fourth badge.

How I played the game was slightly skewed from my knowledge of the previous games, in that I know the entire map, and how everything is tied together. But there’s also a few things that are different in this game. So while I could play through quite quickly, I’m taking my time to experience everything as if I’d never played it before. Part of me wants to explore every single part of the game and trying to spot where it’s different. Another part of me wants to just enjoy the content. And at the same time, I just want to catch every Pokémon and complete my Pokédex.

Overall I felt that the game allows for various types of gameplay. Sometimes I’m sat down in front of a television and I want to really get into the game, and focus on every bit of the content, and other times I’m laying on the sofa and I just want to catch a few Pokémon with the Pokéball controller. Then there are times when I’m commuting to/from work, and I use it as a handheld device. It’s something that can be used wherever you are, no matter the situation, and that’s something I really enjoy about the console as a whole, and Pokémon specifically, as it’s a game that lends itself well to different contexts.

The Future

I haven’t finished the game yet, and although I got my first three badges in just a few days, I plan on playing the game at a slower pace. Especially as I aim to complete my Pokédex.

As a Pokémon GO player, I’m also interested seeing how they work together. As you’re able to transfer Pokémon GO to Pokemon Let’s Go, after you’ve reached Fuchsia City. But as I haven’t reached that, I don’t even know what it looks like. I’ll probably wait until I’m relatively complete though, as I don’t want to “cheat”.

What else is great, is that there’s also another Pokémon game planned for release in 2019! So hopefully I can completely finish the game off before it comes out. It will be interesting to see if that follows in the footsteps of Lets Go, or if it will continue where the traditional series left off.

Apart from Pokémon games, I’m also thinking about getting Zelda and Mario in the future. We’ll have to see how that turns out though.

Anyway, I better go now. The Silph Scope isn’t going to find itself!

Work, work, work…

The only thing I’ve done after work, is to get my Nintendo Switch/Pokémon review nearer to being published. I added some extra details that I thought of throughout the day, and then I started the editing process. I did start this the other day using Markup on iOS, but this time I used the GoodNotes app, and it was a delight. I then made the changes, and read the whole piece again.

What’s left now is just the images. I need to get a header image, and also screenshots from the Switch. This wont take long, but it’s too late for me to do it tonight. So tomorrow will be the day of publishing!

After it’s been published, I can get back to Text Case development!

Back to the standard “nothing to say about work” introduction. I mainly continued the work on continuous integration, and also sorting an app release out.

The rest of the day was spent on the Nintendo Switch/Pokémon review. I wrote about 1700 words for the first draft, and I’m now on the step of editing it. I’m doing that on my iPad, combined with the native Markup feature and my Apple Pencil. It’s a pleasant experience!

There’s not much else left to do after it’s passed my “editorial process”, only some text formatting (with Text Case of course), adding any relevant links, and then capturing some screenshots from the game to include.

Then I’ll hit the publish button!

Josh Ginter at The Newsprint:

The details of this 81 megapixel image of the moon is jaw-dropping — you can see everything.

Best of all, it works incredibly well as an iPhone or iPad wallpaper. The way it lights up the lock screen — especially on the iPhone — is stunning. In effect, it looks like the iPhone progressively lights up the screen, creating a fascinating effect with the lit moon that isn’t replicated the same in other types of images.

He’s right, it looks incredible.

Check out the photographers post on Reddit.

I played around with Continuous Integration at work today. It was quite fun, and as I was writing about it in this entry, it became its own article.

Apart from work fun, I managed to get another few-hundred words written for my Nintendo Switch/Pokémon review. It’s much slower than I planned, but oh well! It’s going to be big!

Something good that I can announce today is that Text Case 2.0 has finally entered an open beta! I thought I’d end up writing here about it waiting to be reviewed still, but just around an hour ago it was accepted. You can find the build on TestFlight.