Written by Jim Ziegler

Last week we saw the unprecedented leak of a full terabyte of data from Game Freak, the company behind the Pokemon video games. From these internal documents we were able to reference sheets for both the video games and anime, cut Pokemon designs, playable builds for several games, and details on the development of characters long before their designs were finalized.

One of the most interesting things to be leaked was a set of text files containing Pokemon mythology. These stories are designed to mimic real-world mythology, and influence the game designers and writers without ever being explicitly referenced, the same way that myths and legends inspire us today without ever thinking about them. Think about it: minotaurs appear in Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, and Yu-Gi-Oh, among other games, but how often do you stop to think about how the first minotaur came to be?

Myths can be problematic, so we have a habit of cleaning them up before we share them with our children. Imagine if Disney’s Hercules was accurate to the myth, and Hercules took on the trials not to impress his father, Zeus, but to do penance for murdering Megara and their children. It would be a much darker story, and in no way appropriate for Disney’s target audience.

The leaked Pokemon myths are much darker than anything found in the games, but not as dark as a lot of real-world mythology. In fact, they follow the themes of common Japanese folklore, except that the yōkai from the myths are replaced by Pokémon. These myths aren’t canon to the franchise, and never make it into the games or anime (except for the Sinnoh Folk Stories books and that one episode of the anime), but instead add to the depth of the Pokémon World. This is the type of worldbuilding that leads to a believable world with a robust history and mythology all its own.

Gam3Escape’s Monthly TCG Trade Night

Tuesday, 6:00 PM

Bring your trade binder and find those missing cards you’ve been looking for. Trades only. Entry fee: $5

IN THE WORLD OF POKÉMON

Surging Sparks Prerelease

Saturday, 6:30, Sunday 3:00

Celebrate the newest Pokémon TCG set with an early look during the Surging Sparks prerelease event! Each player receives a Build & Battle Box from which to build their deck, and then competes for prizes. Entry fee: $30

Pokémon League Casual Play + Pokéween

Monday and Saturday at 6:00 PM, Sunday at noon

Receive a pack of your choice from any in the store, as well as a promo pack. Participants are entered into the end-of-season prize pool, and also receive a Halloween BOOster pack. Entry fee: $10

Pokémon Scarlet & Violet VGC Casual League

Thursday, 6:00 PM

Explore the Paldea region in Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Meet new Pokémon, and battle it out with other Trainers at Gam3Escape’s VGC Casual League. Entry fee: $5

Pokémon GO Great League Blind 3 & Trade Night

Monday and Wednesday, 6:00 PM

Do you play Pokémon GO? Interested in meeting up with other players and playing in sanctioned Pokémon events? Gam3Escape hosts Pokémon GO League events. Stop in from 6pm to 9pm for our Great League blind 3 casual play and trade night. Entry fee: $5.00

Pokémon GO Scavenger Hunt

Grab an achievement sheet in-store and GO out to collect them! Complete the scavenger sheet to earn a booster pack and a promo pack, and to be entered into a drawing for an Elite Trainer Box and other prizes. Entry fee: $10 

GATHER FOR MAGIC

Friday Night Magic: Trick or Treat! Duskmourn 6-Pack Sealed

Friday, 6:00 PM 

Come in for a Trick bag containing 4 Duskmourn: House of Horror packs and 2 random Magic packs, build a 40-card deck from your pulls, and face off against other players.

Standard Showdown

Saturday, 3:00 PM

Adorable bunnies mix with nightmare monsters in the Duskmourn Standard Showdown. Standard constructed format. Entry fee: $10

Casual Commander

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 6:00 PM.

The most popular format in Magic, Commander, is back on the table. Bring your favorite deck, or playtest a new one against other magicians. No entry fee: These battles are for honor, not prizes!

TIME TO DUEL! Yu-Gi-Oh!

Advanced Constructed Tournament

Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 7:00 PM

Duel for supremacy in the Yu-Gi-Oh Trading Card Game. Earn booster packs and OTS Tournament Packs while demonstrating your skills as a duelist. Entry fee: $10

A WHOLE NEW WORLD

Shimmering Skies Lorcana League

Monday, & Saturday, 6:30 PM

The adventures in the Inklands continue with Locana League. Bring your sealed deck, or join the fun! The initial entry fee includes a starter deck of your choice, a booster pack, and a 200-card deck box to keep your sealed cards from getting mixed up with your collection. Entry fee: $25 (one-time charge)

STAR WARS: UNLIMITED

Casual Play League

Tuesdays, 6:00 PM

Whether you’re an aspiring Jedi, a sinister Sith, or a bounty hunter looking for your next score, Star Wars: Unlimited has all the excitement of your favorite space opera in cardboard form. 

THIS MEANS WAR(HAMMER)!

Casual Warhammer

Friday & Sunday, 5:00 PM

In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war. At Gam3Escape, there is only Warhammer! Whether it’s a Tyranid terror or a Blood Angel battalion, stage your army and prepare for battle at the weekly Casual Warhammer event. 

CARDFIGHT! VANGUARD!

Divinez Constructed Tournament

Monday, 5:30 PM

Bring your cards and get ready to fight! Cardfight! Vanguard is back with weekly tournaments, every Monday night. Entry fee: $6

Pumpkin Painting Contest

Halloween Painting Event

Saturday, 6pm

Pick up an unpainting (artificial) pumpkin from our basket of pumpkins from October 20 to 25.  Paint it in store, or at home and bring it back by October 26 at 5pm. Judging October 26 at 6pm. Separate category for youth 17 and under. Entry: $5.00 ($3.00 members)

Halloween Costume and Cosplay Contest

Halloween Event

Saturday, 6pm

Come dressed up in your Halloween finery! Categories: Overall, Scariest, Funniest, and youth category (17 and under).Youth under 13 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Entry: $5.00 ($3.00 for members)

Jim writes articles for The Gamer. You can check out his latest articles at: https://www.thegamer.com/author/james-ziegler/  

Here is one of his latest articles for the upcoming Pokemon Pocket: https://www.thegamer.com/pokemon-pocket-deck-buikld-guide/