Gam3Escape

Weekly Events November 17 - 23
Written by Jim Ziegler

Pokémon hasn’t always had the best worldbuilding, but it’s uniquely positive in a way that you really don’t see in much popular media. And that comes from the franchise’s underlying philosophy.

Media franchises that aren’t based on the real world that we live in (and many of the ones that are) often take a negative outlook on life, establishing protagonists as exceptional in their willingness to try and improve life for everyone. Star Wars, for example, is set in a galaxy where an evil empire reigns supreme, where Luke, Leia, Han, and the rebels struggle for freedom.

Pokémon, though, has an underlying theme of optimism, of people generally wanting to do the right thing, for themselves, their Pokémon, and the world at large. And the worldbuilding reflects that.

Take pollution, for example. Throughout the twentieth century, industrial waste has been a major issue worldwide. Heck, it seemed like every cartoon on TV in the 90s had an environmental lesson to teach, to the point that Captain Planet was a cultural icon. In the world of Pokémon, though, it’s practically nonexistent. I’ve been working on a video essay about Grimer, and the hardest part has been finding instances of pollution in the anime or games!

It wasn’t always that way, though. The first generation of games included Grimer, Muk, Koffing, and Weezing, all of which are either made from or feed off of pollution. Grimer is unique in the fact that it’s spontaneously generated in industrial waste when conditions are right. The same games mention a war that Lt. Surge fought in, which has never been expanded upon.

Later Pokédex entries provide an update on Grimer’s status: Twenty years after Red and Green were released, Sun and Moon’s Pokédex entries said that due to a cleaner environment, their populations were decreasing, and Ultra Moon’s entry even said that they were near extinction. The only group that was thriving were the Alolan Grimers, which were specially bred to eat household garbage.

We’ve seen this trend of Pokémon being active participants in society, and of solving the problems we experience in the real world a handful of times. Electrodes have been shown hooked up in power plants to power entire cities, in much the same way elite firebenders able to lightningbend are reduced to throwing electricity into generators in The Legend of Korra.

I think one of the reasons for this is because the underlying theme of Pokémon isn’t battles, it’s exploration. The first games were made to evoke the feeling of going on an adventure in the great unknown, of seeing the world and all of its wonders. And I love that the franchise has kept that feel.

GAM3ESCAPE'S COLLECTIBLES MARKET
Saturday, 2:00pm
Gam3Escape is excited to host another Mini Collectibles Market! Start your holiday shopping early!
Items will include trading card games such as Pokemon, One Piece, Lorcana, Magic, and others. Collectibles such as Labubu, Sanrio, Funko, Anime, Hot Wheels and others.
Stop by and support local vendors and artists.

IN THE WORLD OF POKÉMON
Standard Constructed Tournament
Saturday, 5:30PM
If you didn’t get enough Pokémon at the League Cup and Challenge last weekend, here’s a chance to play a little more! Entry fee: $10

Pokémon League Casual Play
Monday and Saturday at 6:30 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. Entry fee: $10

GATHER FOR MAGIC
FNM: Avatar: The Last Airbender Draft
Saturday, 6:00 PM, Sunday, 7:00 PM
The first thing an Airbender learns is how to make a draft. Join Aang and the gaang for Gam3Escape’s Avatar: The Last Airbender release draft! Entry fee: $30

cEDH Tournament
Saturday, 4:00 PM
Compete in Gam3Escape’s latest no-proxy cEDH tournament. This time, a Wheel of Fortune is up for grabs! Entry fee: $25

Magic League
Thursdays, 6:00 PM
Receive a booster pack and promo for each week. Entry fee: $10/week.

Casual Commander
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday, 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 Planeswalkers. No entry fee: These battles are for honor, not prizes!

TIME TO DUEL! YU-GI-OH!
Advanced Constructed Tournament
Thursday & Friday, 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 OF LORCANA
Lorcana League/Tournament
Friday, 6:00PM
Share your love of Disney and trading card games with other enthusiasts at Gam3Escape’s Lorcana League! Entry fee: $11

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.

GUNDAM TCG
Newtype Challenge 2025 Mission 2
Saturday, 1:00PM

Gundam Card Game Constructed Tournament
Sunday, 1:00 PM
Welcome to the battlefield that covers space and Earth. The “GUNDAM CARD GAME” expresses the world of the Gundam series through Unit, Pilot, Command, and Base cards. Collect cards and dive into the world of Gundam! Entry fee: $10

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

SET SAIL FOR ONE PIECE!
One Piece Constructed Tournament
Saturday, 2:30 PM
Gather your crew and join us for Gam3Escape’s One Piece Constructed tournament! Entry fee: $10

One Piece Treasure Cup
Saturday, 2:30 PM
Compete with other pirates to earn exclusive black and gold DON!!, alt art Tashigi, and Sabo cards! Entry fee: $15

RIFTBOUND: LEAGUE OF LEGENDS
Constructed Tournament
Sunday, 3::00 PM
Entry fee: $10

TABLETOP CLASSICS
Casual Chess Play
Wednesdays, 5:30 PM
Gam3Escape is excited to host, in conjunction with Hawaii Island Chess Association, casual play Chess every Monday at 5:30pm! Some chess boards will be provided but feel free to bring your own. Learn to play, fun for all ages. Youth under 13 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.