.004 Δ [Video]

[ratherbelocky]

Goooood evening, residents of Johto. It's a lovely, drizzly January day, and I've got a question you folks might be able to answer for me. Consider it an informal poll.

[York looks comfortable and cozy as he lounges around his house, still wearing his ugly Christmas sweater.]

Now, I understand that this place just isn't equipped to support a Grifball League, but there's got to be more to life than just hockey and baseball. Are there Pokémon Olympics or something I should tune into? And, hey, what kind of sports did you guys have back in your worlds? Were they fun? Would you recreate 'em here if you could?

[He rubs his chin for a moment, then adds:]

If anyone around Goldenrod's interested in forming some kind of low-key community sports team--y'know, something for people, not Pokémon--let me know. I might be able to help us get something set up before baseball season starts.

Comments

[Video]

[ojamameansfamily]

Where I'm from we had Duel Monsters. A REAL sport, not like driftball or whatever the hell that is.

[It's totally a sport because shut up.]

This place is so backwater no one's even heard of it, so YEAH I'm gonna recreate it if I can.

[He just needs to build up some real funds first. And get a printing press. ...Duel Disks might be a little beyond his ability, but he'll burn that bridge when he gets to it.]

[Video]

[ratherbelocky]

Oh-kay, I'll bite. What's Duel Monsters, and how's it any different from what we do with our Pokémon?

[Oh god York what can of worms are you opening.]

Re: [Video]

[ojamameansfamily]

It's totally different! See, that's what I mean when I say this place is the freaking boonies!

[Yeah this is basically a whole Pandora's box of worms, York. Sorry not sorry.]

First off, we play it using cards. The monsters're all holographic, and there's no freakin' slime involved unless you're playing some really sick exhibition duel.

[He pulls a small deck of trading cards from his pocket and waves it at the camera as he rants. A more elegant battling method from a more civilized dimension, obviously.]

You summon monsters and make them battle until someone's life hits zero. It's all strategy and power, none of this 'make friends with your monsters' crap.

[And he's definitely not lying at all about that last part.]

[Video]

[ratherbelocky]

Uh-huh. Uh-huh, I see. Cards and strategy.

[...]

So, what exactly would you say makes this Duel Monsters thing a sport?

Re: [Video]

[ojamameansfamily]

You have any idea how intense a duel can get? This isn't some stupid game of solitaire or whatever.

[Chazz you are not helping your case here.]

Getting into the pro leagues takes real skill and effort, probably even more than whatever it takes to toss around a ball professionally.

[Video]

[ratherbelocky]

I guess if it has leagues, it might be a real sport where you come from...

[He still sounds doubtful, but, well. If professional poker aired on ESPN, York's got to at least give this guy's weird nerd game some benefit of the doubt.]

I dunno, though, man. Wouldn't you say there's a difference between a sport and a game?

Re: [Video]

[ojamameansfamily]

[You come into his house. You insult his children's trading card game.]

What, you're saying it doesn't count cause it doesn't involve tossing a ball around or something?

[Video]

[ratherbelocky]

Usually a player's got to display some level of athletic ability in a sport, right? I'm just saying.

Re: [Video]

[ojamameansfamily]

You ever had a hard-light hologram blow up in your face, man?

[Because apparently that's a thing.]

Had a giant dragon spray fire at you? It's not like just getting the sun in your eyes or something, there's a force to it, and you gotta be strong enough to take it.

[Video]

[ratherbelocky]

...

Well, I had a grenade blow up in my face once, yeah. Among other things.

[Is this really a conversation you want to have with a sci-fi soldier, Chazz.]

Re: [Video]

[ojamameansfamily]

Is that supposed to impress me?

[What's "quitting while you're ahead" mean?]

Just because you've seen some bad shit doesn't mean you know a thing about dueling.

[Video]

[ratherbelocky]

I'm just sayin' your holographic dragon shit doesn't really impress me, kid.

Re: [Video]

[ojamameansfamily]

...whatever.

[Admitting defeat with all the grace of a sleep-deprived grizzly.]

You wouldn't be saying that if you'd ever seen a professional duel, that's all I'm saying.

[Video]

[ratherbelocky]

[Well, as long as he's clearly won, York's apparently fine talking with this kid.]

You think they got the tech to replicate that here? They do have kind of a weird mix of things available to the average consumer.

Re: [Video]

[ojamameansfamily]

I dunno, maybe? They've got some pretty crazy stuff here, but I haven't seen any holographic tech.

You might be able to recreate it with what's available here, but it'd take a crazy genius. I could maintain my duel disk, but no way I'd be able to build one from scratch.

[Video]

[ratherbelocky]

You might wanna ask around for a crazy genius, then. There's all sorts here, I know that much.

Re: [Video]

[ojamameansfamily]

Emphasis on the crazy part, maybe. I haven't seen anyone yet that could match Seto Kaiba.

[Because he hasn't really been looking yet, but details.]

Dude invented full VR tech before he was even out of high school.

[Video]

[ratherbelocky]

What, like. Invented it out of whole cloth? Come on, nobody does that, it takes a whole team to figure that shit out.

Re: [Video]

[ojamameansfamily]

He had corporate scientists and stuff to polish things, but all the original working prototypes? All him.

[Video]

[ratherbelocky]

Wow. High school, you said? Good luck finding anyone that caliber, but you really might be surprised.