"In honor of the franchise's 25th anniversary, what's your most treasured personal memory within the world of Pokemon? Something that you look back on as a defining experience unique to yourself as a player/watcher/enjoyer of this series. I need those strong nostalgic feels."

For me, it's the fact that I started playing the games & caught my first pokemon during a difficult portion of my childhood, and can still play with the virtual creatures I caught as an 8 year old. Some (including my first) are still living in My Pokemon Ranch on the Wii, others are still trying to get their ribbons in ORAS, and will eventually find their way to HOME so I can take them with me everywhere I go. I picked berries with and fed these pokemon poffins I cooked with friends- then took my guys into contests and battles against them. Some Pokemon I got from long-gone friends and acquaintances, others inherited from the previous owners of used games. They might not be living, breathing creatures, but they're as real as you choose to make them. Despite the changes that the franchise has undergone throughout the years, the connections you can build to this rich fictional world can be enjoyed regardless of age or experience level if you're willing to play a bit of pretend. via /r/pokemon https://ift.tt/38fCbxZ