TRAINER'S EYE #50 - "GO Fest in NYC is Ink-redible" ft. SquidDaBeast

In this Pokemon interview, we are joined by SquidDaBeast, a Pokemon GO Trainer from New York City, who has discovered a way to meet and connect with people through Pokemon GO. His journey is a testament to the power of adventure and camaraderie in the heart of the Big Apple. He also shares his interest in becoming a Twitch Streamer and how his "calamari crew" empowers him to become a greater content creator.

SquidDaBeast shares his fascinating experiences of playing Pokémon GO in the vibrant streets of New York City. From iconic landmarks to hidden gems, he unveils the thrill and excitement of exploring the city while catching Pokémon and engaging with fellow trainers.

As Go Fest makes its way to New York City, SquidDaBeast reflects on his previous Go Fest experience in Seattle and shares his anticipation for the grand event coming to his own backyard. Throughout the episode, we delve into his deep-rooted love for Pokémon. From cherished childhood memories to thrilling Pokémon encounters, he shares his passion for the franchise that continues to inspire and create unforgettable moments through the world of Pokémon.

Trainer's Eye is a series where the stories are real and people still play this game. From PVP to Shiny Hunting, each person's Pokemon GO journey is unique and we dive into each journey here on As The Pokeball Turns!

Sources
Opening Song: "Forget You" by Alex_MakeMusic from Pixabay
SquidDaBeast Song: "What's Up Danger" by Blackway & Black Caviar

Connect with SquidDaBeast: Twitter | Twitch | Instagram 

Transcript

David Hernandez: 0:00

My name is David Hernandez, and you're listening to As the Pokeball Turns. Welcome to As the Pokeball Turns, where the stories are real and people still play this game. GO Fest is an annual celebration for Pokemon GO. For 2023, GO Fest arrives in London, Osaka, and where my guest in this episode is from, New York City. New York City is arguably one of the most iconic cities within America, if not the entire world. In fact, in one of the first debuted trailers for Pokemon Go, a scene where thousands of Pokemon trainers running to Battle Mewtwo took place in Times Square. Now with GO Fest finally coming to the Big Apple, we've come full circle with Mewtwo being replaced by the anticipated Mega Rayquaza in Pokemon GO, as hundreds, if not thousands, of Pokemon trainers will be visiting New York City for GO Fest 2023. In this episode, my guest shares his personal experience playing Pokemon GO in New York City, and offers a few tips for people planning to visit for GO Fest. From New York, here is his origin story into the world of Pokemon GO. This is SquidDaBeast! today, I'm joined by Squid the Beast. Squid, welcome to the show.

SquidDaBeast: 2:08

Thank you for having me. What's good, everybody?

David Hernandez: 2:10

Definitely, man. And before we do dive into anything, I wanted to give you a big congratulations on getting to 1, 000 Twitch followers. I know that's not easy. I know that was a bit of a grind and a long journey. It must have felt incredible doing it.

SquidDaBeast: 2:23

Yes, sir. It definitely did. Thank you for the congrats. And it was definitely a big milestone I wanted to hit halfway through the year. So I'm glad I was able to hit it right before the year was halfway over.

David Hernandez: 2:33

You know, what's interesting though, is that you actually hated your name initially, right?

SquidDaBeast: 2:36

Yes, I did. I couldn't stand my name, but I went with it and I figured, all right, how can I make this into an advantage and that is how I came up with the name SquidDaBeast.

David Hernandez: 2:45

What was it about it that you didn't like initially cause originally it came in, early schooling, right?

SquidDaBeast: 2:50

Yes, sophomore year of high school. And it was just. Everybody called me Squidward, and I didn't watch Spongebob back then, and I still don't. I just didn't like it, and I thought it was kinda, eh, because I think the character is... He's alright, but he's just more of a, character that's just... I hate everything, and I hate everybody, and I'm like, I'm not like that, I'm just a quiet person. And then they just started calling me Squid afterwards, And then I was like, alright, if I'm stuck with this name for the rest of my life, cause I still know my high school friends to this day, it's been 13 years and we've known each other this long. So I was like, all right, how can I benefit? And then one day at a party, they saw I was dating a twin and they're like, yo, squid, you a beast now. And I'm like, hold up, that name sounds kind of dope. I'm gonna roll with that." And there we go.

David Hernandez: 3:27

Well, I'll say that you've come a long way for somebody who initially hated his name. It's a very incredible journey, and I'm sure you sometimes like to exquidently use a pun sometimes too, right?

SquidDaBeast: 3:38

Oh yes, definitely. I love puns.

David Hernandez: 3:41

Do you have a good one right now?

SquidDaBeast: 3:41

Actually, I do. I write them down. I have a whole section in my Discord just for dad jokes. And I keep things there just in case anybody's like, Hey, you got a joke for me? I'm like, yeah, I got you. why can't sailors play cards?

David Hernandez: 3:55

Why?

SquidDaBeast: 3:56

Cause they were standing on a deck.

David Hernandez: 3:58

Ha ha ha ha ha ha. Well anyway, so, what was your early experience with pokemon?

SquidDaBeast: 4:02

my early experience was way back when the game first came out. I remember I was going to buy it, because I saw it on commercial on TV back then, and I'm like, yo, this looks kinda dope. I went to buy blue version, but they were sold out in my area. I was like, all right, let me go yellow because yellow looks okay. It's a little cute mouse on it. Now I got teased on playing Pokemon, but my area was like limited to kids. So it wasn't much. So when I went in to buy blue version and it was sold out, I was like, wait, it's sold out. There's not many people, kids around here. Am I getting bullied by the same people that's playing this game in secrecy? I thought that was strange, but me and my old next door neighbor, was my best friend, R.I.P. his birthday just passed a week ago actually. but we used to just play. I'll go to his house, come over and play, he would come into my house and go over and play and just spend all night playing Pokemon, talking about Pokemon and stuff. So it's very, very, very good memories.

David Hernandez: 4:54

My condolences. Was it recent or is it something that's been a while?

SquidDaBeast: 4:58

it is been about two years now, but Oh, okay. It still hurts, you know.

David Hernandez: 5:01

Oh, I hear you, man. how would you two guys, play Pokemon? would y'all just like battle each other trade, or,

SquidDaBeast: 5:07

we did battle each other. We traded. I had yellow and blue, he had red, and then we just like, okay, I want to trade this, and see what happens, and if you need a mon, you can borrow it, and I actually gave him one of my favorite mons, my Alakazam. well, Kadabra at the time. He gave me his Haunter. We didn't know it evolved through trading back then, so we traded it, and we're like, yo, it changed, we're like, wait, what, yours too, and then we're like, Okay, let's trade it back and we'll see what the heck this is about and then it's like oh, it's an evolution So we just kept trading mines to see what would evolve and what didn't. Machoke was one of them I can't remember another one. There's one more that evolves through trading I can't remember who it is at the top of my head. But yeah, so we just Talk like that and then battle

David Hernandez: 5:49

that must have been a very fun surprise to find out how both of y'all's Pokemon just happened to Be the ones who evolved by trading and y'all both get different Pokemon. That's kind of fun.

SquidDaBeast: 5:58

Yeah, it's just Haunter was one of his favorites and Kadabra is one of mine, So I was like, you know what? I'll put my game my money your game and then Got a party of each other in each other's game and then like wait, it's different All right, let's trade it back and then we'll do another mine that we like So yeah,

David Hernandez: 6:13

so did you stick with Pokemon throughout? I know you said earlier, you're bullied a little bit through schooling because of it. And, I went through the same thing. Did you stick with Pokemon throughout or did you kind of tamper off as well?

SquidDaBeast: 6:23

Oh yeah, definitely. I stuck throughout. I played every game. Every game that came out, I was like, all right, I got to have it. Let me try it. See if I like it. Still the same thing. Cool. New Pokemon. Cool. The anime. Watched that. Everything Pokemon, I was still through.

David Hernandez: 6:36

What was your favorite generation?

SquidDaBeast: 6:37

Oh, Gen 5. Easy. Still is my favorite generation.

David Hernandez: 6:40

I believe that's black, white, black and white too, right?

SquidDaBeast: 6:43

Yeah. I have a sealed copy of black and white too from a friend in Australia, he gave me last year at Go Fest.

David Hernandez: 6:48

Oh, wow. Really?

SquidDaBeast: 6:50

Yeah.

David Hernandez: 6:50

Those are worth a lot now, because they're very hard, those games are pretty hard to find now.

SquidDaBeast: 6:54

Exactly, that's why when he's like, yeah, you can have them, I'm like, he ain't gonna give me them, show up, here you go. Wait, you actually giving me these? Yeah. Do you know how much these are worth? No? I told him, he was like, you know what, screw it, I already said I'm gonna give it to you, here you go.

David Hernandez: 7:08

That's a good friend.

SquidDaBeast: 7:10

I'm mad, I'm not mad. Okay, thank you.

David Hernandez: 7:13

Did you like, get some kind of cover to protect them, or you just keep them in the plastic?

SquidDaBeast: 7:17

Oh, no, they still in the plastic.

David Hernandez: 7:18

Wow. Okay. hold on to those as long as possible. You might be able to retire with those eventually.

SquidDaBeast: 7:22

Yeah, I said that the second he gave me, I'm like, when I came home and stream that night, I was like, I'm never opening these unless I absolutely 100% have no other choice and I need to. That's the only reason these are leaving my possession.

David Hernandez: 7:36

What was it about Gen 5 that you enjoyed compared to all the other generations? What stood out about it?

SquidDaBeast: 7:41

So much. The Pokémon, the cover. I was like, okay, black and white, white's my favorite color. So I was like, okay, I gotta play white version. And I saw the black dragon on white version. I'm like, you know what? Now I gotta get the other one because I want the white dragon. it's the biggest Pokédex in any game by itself. Most of the mons that I love are from that generation, the story I love, the characters I love. I just love everything about the gen. My favorite Pokemon is from that generation too, even though we still have the shiny out.

David Hernandez: 8:06

Which one is it?

SquidDaBeast: 8:06

Victini.

David Hernandez: 8:07

Ooh, that's a nice one. It's one of the few ones that are shiny locked, like you said. So how does it feel not to be able to get the shiny version legally, I guess?

SquidDaBeast: 8:15

It pains me. I had one from way back when in the Gen 6 days when everybody was just wonder trading every Pokemon shiny. And I'm like, this is illegal because we don't have a shiny Victini, but I have one right here. Am I getting rid of it? Nope. Not until we get one. Not until that comes out and I can hunt it and I get it. I am not getting rid of this illegal one. I know it's illegal, but I don't care.

David Hernandez: 8:37

I mean, I can't blame you because there's no other way to get it outside of those illegal means. Now what's curious though, Is it gonna come out in Pokemon Go first, or is it gonna come out through the main series?

SquidDaBeast: 8:46

I feel like we're gonna get it in Go first, the Shiny, because every year we have, Kanto Tour, Hoenn Tour, Johto Tour. Sinnoh Tour is next year, and the year after that is nine times out of ten, Unova. I don't care where it is. I don't care how broke I am. I'm going to that Unova Tour. I don't care, because I want my Victini first. I do not care. I will go broke to go there and get me my Shiny Victini.

David Hernandez: 9:08

Wow, that's some dedication. say you were doing a playthrough of either black or white you take your pick. What six would you choose?

SquidDaBeast: 9:15

Oh, that's easy. Oshawott obviously Darmanitan Or Chandelure, whichever one I feel I need for my team. Rufflet or Braviary. I need me a grass type So it would probably be Levanny, because I love Levanny. Excadrill and Electross.

David Hernandez: 9:31

So moving forward, so you played through all the games and you know, eventually Pokemon Go comes out in 2016. Did you first start playing day one or did you play later on?

SquidDaBeast: 9:40

Day one. I was sitting in my friend's room. I forgot what we were doing, I think we were watching Dragon Ball Super at the time? We were watching some anime. And then my friend was like, Yo, Pokemon Go just came out. I was like, what? Alright. Download. Pick my starter, Squirtle. Alright, cool. And we was like, alright, so what team are y'all picking? Mystic, instantly. Two of my other friends, Mystic. my cousin, Instinct. My other friend's I don't know, I might pick Mystic. My friend that also picked Mystic, who was eating at the time, he's like, I'll give you a Spiritomb if you go Mystic. I'm like, Okay. My cousin was like, wait, what? I thought he was picking Instinct. Nah, man, he offered me Spiritomb. What do you got to offer? Nothing. I'm going Mystic.

David Hernandez: 10:19

What was it about Mystic that made you instantly want to choose it?

SquidDaBeast: 10:22

Blue's like my second favorite color. Articuno's my favorite bird. I was just like, eh, why not? There was a team harmony for Lugia. I wouldn't went there.

David Hernandez: 10:31

Unfortunately, I always felt like they could have two more teams, you know, add Team Hoho and Team Lugia. I think that could... We could have five teams of Pokemon go.

SquidDaBeast: 10:39

That would shake things up crazy.

David Hernandez: 10:41

Would you switch?

SquidDaBeast: 10:42

Mmm... Maybe. Maybe. I, I, I, I'm on the fence. I'm like a 60 40. No, I wouldn't switch.

David Hernandez: 10:50

Okay, but you would think about it though?

SquidDaBeast: 10:52

Yes, I would think about it. So, not a definite no, but it's a maybe.

David Hernandez: 10:57

So Pokemon Go comes out, like, where did you and I guess your friends or your brothers, where did you, where would y'all go to play Pokemon Go? What was it like?

SquidDaBeast: 11:05

It's so funny because, uh, I just got out the shelter, I was in the shelter, so I couldn't do much, like, first week, first month, and then I moved somewhere close to where I am now, and then my friend was like nearby, so he's yo, squid, you wanna skate around? Cause he skates, my other friend skates I skates and you're like, all right, let's just skate around, catch Pokemon late at night, take gyms and whatever. So we just go around Brooklyn, go to a park, get spawns, take gyms. We even did that in the cold a few times, except we walk and then we just use the beef patty with cheese as a hand warmer because our hands were cold. So we just bought beef patty with cheese, keep it not cold and then just put our hands on it to make our hands not cold. The same with a cup of coffee.

David Hernandez: 11:44

So y'all would use coffee and burgers to keep warm when Pokemon Go was out? I guess it gets pretty cold there.

SquidDaBeast: 11:50

Yeah, in the winter time, yeah. When we would take gyms. Fortunately, I'm the only one that still plays of my friend group. Well, I'm the hardcore player of the friend group. My other friend, my cousin still plays somewhat, but I play more than him.

David Hernandez: 12:02

Did everybody kinda tailor off Pokemon Go or just left the game?

SquidDaBeast: 12:05

Yeah, they just tailored off.

David Hernandez: 12:07

You said shelter. Were you like in a homeless shelter?

SquidDaBeast: 12:10

yeah, I've been there. three times. The first time I was come home from school and I was filling a parade and some issues happened with the landlord. So we had to go into a shelter and we got out, we got to another place, which is the place where I was when Pokemon Go first came out, then the landlord left again. And then we had to go back in the shelter and then got out again and then landlord left again. So it's just like, Oh my God, can the landlord just stay in one place? But where I am now, I've been here for like almost three years. So we Gucci and this is my aunt's building. So

David Hernandez: 12:43

it sounds like you feel more secure compared to like your past couple of places.

SquidDaBeast: 12:47

Yes. This one, I know the person that owns the building. So I'm like, okay, ain't nothing crazy happening.

David Hernandez: 12:52

That's good, man. I know the shelters are no fun. That's for sure. So during that initial time of Pokemon go, How would you play the game?

SquidDaBeast: 12:59

usually on my day off, I would just walk around, take gems, go to the local park, put an Incense on, sit there for a little bit, walk around and then go back home. And the summertime and the winter time, I would just be like, all right, let me just do the things I can do. If I'm going somewhere, I'll play along the way, but if I'm at home and it's 10 degrees outside, I'm not going out.

David Hernandez: 13:18

So what's your favorite, thing to do with Pokemon? Like, are you a shiny hunter? Are you a battler?

SquidDaBeast: 13:22

I used to be a battler, but, I fell off of Scarlet and Violet. I haven't battled in Scarlet and Violet at all. Sword and Shield I used to. I do it from time to time, but I just don't have the time to make mons anymore like I used to, so now I'm just a shiny hunter.

David Hernandez: 13:36

So before Scarlet and Vi would you like get into the EVs and the IVs of Pokemon like the team building like how deep did you? Would you get into competitive battling?

SquidDaBeast: 13:45

Yes IVs, EVs, team building. Although I didn't use legends I don't like using legendaries in Wi Fi and VGCs. That's just me. I feel like they too much So I just alright, what can I use in substitution for a legendary and I go from there.

David Hernandez: 13:58

what's one Pokemon game that you could always go back to like what's your favorite Pokemon game out of all of them?

SquidDaBeast: 14:04

Tough choice. I got three choices. All right, boom, three choices. Number one, Gale of Darkness because the music in that game is crazy and the story is dope. Number two, Underrated game. I need to find this so I can have this in my collection, pokemon Conquest. We need a second one because Pokemon Conquest was a great and phenomenal game, if you have not played it, you can look up a YouTube playthrough of it. that game is amazing and if we get an upgraded game of the current generation now with Gen 9, Oh my God, that game would sell so quick and so easy because that game was amazing.

David Hernandez: 14:39

Real quick, what was Pokemon Conquest about for those who may not know?

SquidDaBeast: 14:42

It was a tactical RPG game. Style like, Fire Emblem. If you played Fire Emblem, Path of Radiance, or Path of Dawn, I believe, it's like a turn based RPG that has a map, and you have to move your Pokemon, one space, or attack one space. And the storytelling was amazing and I think at the time, it just went up to Generation 5, so... Can only imagine how crazy the story would be with Gen 6 mons, Megas, and Dynamaxes, and Paldean mons, and Forms. Going to be crazy. So that's very underrated game and number one, a story that always made me cry. I don't care how old I got. And I saw that story that I shed a tear. Pokemon Explorers of Time and Darkness because that story just hit, it hit different...

David Hernandez: 15:28

hit your feels pretty much?

SquidDaBeast: 15:29

Yes, it did. I literally cried when I finished that game. I was like, all right, I can't, I can't be sitting here crying, but yo this story is kinda crazy.

David Hernandez: 15:37

So I know obviously New York is pretty populated, but what is it like to play in your area? Like where do people go to play?

SquidDaBeast: 15:43

Manhattan. That is the city where Time Square and Bryant park is. Always crowded, always lured up, you can get into a raid anywhere, no matter what time is left on it, you'll be able to get into a raid perfectly fine, which is why I think GoFest, when Mega Rayquaza come out, that is going to be insane, I don't even want to think about all the Rayquazas that are going to be on all those Gyms. Ugh, all those stops that are going to be lured up, oh my goodness, if you're coming to New York, for GoFest, I recommend, please bring Lucky Eggs, cause there are so many stops, there's so many raids to do. You will get so much experience just walking around the city. No matter what time of day, you'll get so much experience

David Hernandez: 16:20

since we're on that topic. So do you have any tips for Pokemon go players going into New York? Like what would you suggest they go play? What do you suggest they do?

SquidDaBeast: 16:28

All right. So there are numerous options and routes. I recommend if you like the park to the person that likes to sightsee, I would recommend starting at either West 4th Street or Central Park and then walk your way towards that direction. So if you start at West 4th, walk to Central Park because that is a nice walk. You'll see Bryant Park, you'll pass by Times Square, you'll pass by the Nintendo Store, and so many other things. And Central Park is massive, so you will find something to do there no matter what time. same way if you're going Central Park to West 4th, except west fourth is just more of a all right. I can relax, there's a lot of seats, There's a lot of stores to go in a lot of places to eat and stuff. So clear out your bag space You're going to need it. Clear out your items or maximize your items if you can because again, you're going to need it. Make sure you have a cooling fan for your phone portable charger and just make sure that If you're playing with a friend always helps. If you have somebody that, coming to New York, I recommend y'all stick together. New York is not always fine and dandy, but if you have somebody with you, you're fine.

David Hernandez: 17:25

you must've been pretty excited when you found out officially that it was New York city, right?

SquidDaBeast: 17:29

Oh yeah, it's definitely because, one of my friends is a sponsor creator and the night before it got announced, he kept saying orange or blue skies. Cause I'm like. He knows something. I feel like they about to announce GoFest, but I didn't want to say nothing because I was streaming. I was just sitting here looking at him every time he said I'm like, he knows something. And then the next morning I was going out for a vlog and then it got announced as I was starting my vlog. I was like, I knew it. And I was hype. I was literally on the train like, yooo! I couldn't say it because train. Right. I was just sitting there like quietly like, yo! That was crazy.

David Hernandez: 18:01

it feels poetic because I always felt like eventually we would get New York because You think about the first trailers of Pokemon Go, right? I believe it was Mewtwo in Times Square, right?

SquidDaBeast: 18:10

That was indeed Times Square.

David Hernandez: 18:12

And I always felt like New York was, like, destined to eventually host a GoFest. I'm glad it's finally happening now. I kinda was hoping for Seattle instead. I thought like maybe Niantic would save it for a fifth or a ten year, you know, one of them even numbers, if so, you will.

SquidDaBeast: 18:25

Yeah, a lot of people thought that, me included, but I'm like, I'm not complaining. I ain't gotta spend nothing this year. I can come home and go to sleep and go back out.

David Hernandez: 18:33

Oh, you're actually going to go to sleep with GoFest coming to New York City? I thought y'all don't sleep over there.

SquidDaBeast: 18:37

Ha ha ha. I mean, when everything is closed and everybody's like, all right, we got our play date tomorrow, we need energy. I'm gonna be asleep, but not for much. I'm probably be asleep for like three to four hours each night,

David Hernandez: 18:49

we can just get some cups of coffee or some energy drinks.

SquidDaBeast: 18:51

Yes. actually I don't really drink coffee like that, but maybe an energy drink or two or three Monday I'm gonna pass out.

David Hernandez: 18:57

Have you had a chance to go by where Gophers is supposed to be at?

SquidDaBeast: 19:01

Yes, I did. I did do a video on that. I literally walked from 125th Street on the bridge to the Randall's Island.

David Hernandez: 19:08

What'd you see so far? Can you share any details?

SquidDaBeast: 19:10

it was a 20 minute walk. there's like a little baby field when you first get to the island and then there's a massive baseball field. Well, it's like a massive baseball field and then like four other small baseball fields, plus the like closed. convention center that I couldn't go into, but I think it said it is a miniature golf course in there. There's snacks and vendors out in there and bathrooms and all of that. So I feel like it's going to be like that cafe we had in Seattle where it was just like a bunch of food stores and the inside with a couple of bathrooms and the second floor and a miniature golf course.

David Hernandez: 19:43

So you mentioned Seattle, so I assume you went to GoFest Seattle. Was that your first ever GoFest that you attended?

SquidDaBeast: 19:49

Yes, it was. And I very regret not going to 2019 GoFest.

David Hernandez: 19:53

What was it like for you to go to Seattle?

SquidDaBeast: 19:55

it was a journey and a half. It was my first time flying anywhere by myself for Pokemon Go. I was nervous. Then when I got there, I was like, all right, I get to meet people. I haven't met before and I'm hanging out with people I've met in Philly Safari Zone. This is cool. And then, all right, Seattle, new place. This is one of the places I've never thought I would say, Hey, let me go to Seattle. But Pokemon Go has made me want to go to Seattle, so I appreciate the game for that. the weather wasn't bad out there either. So it's actually better than New York. It was hot, but it wasn't as humid as it is in New York.

David Hernandez: 20:27

Let me segue real quick. So you said you regretted not going to 2019. Why do you regret not going?

SquidDaBeast: 20:33

Cause I feel like I missed out on seeing and meeting so many people. That's mainly the thing about Pokemon Go for me, just meeting people and going places, and in Chicago I've never been, so, me going to Chicago would have been great, and all the people that I know now, I would have been met a long time ago, in Chicago, for 2019 GoFest.

David Hernandez: 20:51

What stopped you from going?

SquidDaBeast: 20:53

Money.

David Hernandez: 20:53

Ah, that's important.

SquidDaBeast: 20:54

Money. And I think I was still in the shelter when that happened. I think I was just about to get out of the shelter as that happened.

David Hernandez: 21:00

Ah, so you're still trying to get back on your feet basically.

SquidDaBeast: 21:03

Yeah.

David Hernandez: 21:03

Well, the good thing is you did get the chance to go to Seattle. So what was it like, what did you get a chance to do while you were there?

SquidDaBeast: 21:10

so me and a couple of friends, we went to Trainer Tips after party, which was great. we had some good food, we just walked around the city, took in the sites, hang around for a bit. I went to another little meetup which was also dope, by FleeceKing, actually. And I also went to see the Museum of Flight, which was also a very good experience. that was, it was like, all right. I want to go to every go fest as I can. If I can go to an event, I want to go. That was me with Philly Safari Zone, and I'm glad I went. I was like, alright, let me go to GoFest.

David Hernandez: 21:41

If somebody was on the fence about going to a GoFest, what would you tell them?

SquidDaBeast: 21:45

first I would ask them, are they invested into this game? Like, would you rather be invested for the game, or are you invested to the people? Because if you're invested to the people, going to GoFest is 100% no brainer. Go ahead and go. If you're in it for the game. Yeah, that's cool and all, but we got global right there. And if you don't really care about meeting people, I guess you don't really need to go. But if you want to see a new place and see new people, put names to faces, go to GoFest.

David Hernandez: 22:09

You've mentioned the people a couple times. what is it about the people that is so important for you?

SquidDaBeast: 22:14

Meeting new people has always been one of my favorite things about the world, period. So just going to somewhere like, all right, I want to go somewhere I've never been. Who knows what I'll meet, who I'll meet. I might meet somebody that's like me, that loves Pokemon, loves video games, period and you know, we can vibe, we can talk, network, stream together, you know. So meeting people is always a bonus for me.

David Hernandez: 22:35

And do you have any particular places that you would like to visit?

SquidDaBeast: 22:39

Oh yeah, there's definitely one, of course, Japan because I always want to go to Japan, especially as a Pokemon fan. Italy always been a place I've ever wanted to go to ever since I was a kid. I want to go to Vegas again, because I've been there once after I graduated high school, but I was still 17, so I want to go there now when I'm older.

David Hernandez: 22:55

You couldn't do the fun stuff?

SquidDaBeast: 22:57

Not really, no. Then I was kind of like, eh, still a little kid, so I didn't know what was going on. Right. I was just there so I want to go to the UK because I heard it's great out there and Australia because a lot of people want me to come to Australia.

David Hernandez: 23:09

So earlier you talked about you got a chance to go to Philly for Safari Zone, right?

SquidDaBeast: 23:13

Yeah. That was my first in person Pokemon Go event. It was great. That's why I met, Lando Alfa, True Inferno, Jesse and Rachel, Cowboy Hat Caterpie, Trainer Club. I wore my Spider Man suit out there and it was crazy.

David Hernandez: 23:27

For those who may not know, like, what's the difference between, say, a Safari Zone and a GO Fest, in your opinion?

SquidDaBeast: 23:32

Safari Zone is more of a... Limited one spot thing it's still a community aspect, but not as much as a Go Fest would be. Go Fest can have thousands and thousands of people, whereas a Safari zone is like 2000, 3000 maybe. Go Fest is like not limited to just one spot limit to the whole city and the spawns are probably nine times outta 10. So much better.

David Hernandez: 23:55

I've always wanted to go to Philly. I just wanna try Philly Cheesesteak to be honest.

SquidDaBeast: 23:58

I did that this year. It was awesome.

David Hernandez: 24:00

They live up to the hype.

SquidDaBeast: 24:01

Yes, it did. then I was like, that just tastes like a chopped cheese to me, which is a New York specialty, which is a Philly cheesesteak hamburger. I already have people like, all right, show me the best place to get the chopped cheese, all right. Show me the best place to get a bacon, egg, and cheese. I got you. And pizza.

David Hernandez: 24:17

So, one thing about Pokemon is eventually you started into content creation, right? What made you want to do that?

SquidDaBeast: 24:22

it was like a very spur of the moment thing. Me and my cousins and our friends were like, Yo, we have the technology to make YouTube and stuff way back then. Why don't we do it? I'm like, yeah, you're right. We should do it. he started uploading, streaming and then when I first started streaming, I was so, I didn't know what the heck I was doing. And then he walked me through it and it was just like, all right, got to try it out. I'll help you. If you need help, you got this. And if not now, sound fees, discard your own wings. And this was like when I actually started streaming seriously cause when I first started, I was streaming like once a month, once a week, cause I was like, eh, it's probably not going to be for me because I'm camera shy. I don't like being on camera. I hate my voice. So I have to hear my voice on stream a lot. Same with videos. So yeah, and then I didn't have a name at the time when we started so we started is like 2012 I ain't get my names with the beast until like 2013. once I got the name I was like, alright, Time for me to get out my shell and be on camera. I know I already hate being on camera. I'm camera shy. I don't like my voice but streaming has helped me grow out of that shell. So every time I stream I'm like, alright time to get on camera now. Back then, I was like, ugh, I gotta get a camera, but I still hate my voice, but that's how it's gonna be, apparently. my cousin helped me a lot, got me started, and to the point where he didn't have the motivation to stream, and I was like, I still do. It's more to the point where I passed him now, and my friends were like, dang, the student has to pass the master, huh? I was like, no, it's just that I kept going when he couldn't, or didn't want to. now we here today.

David Hernandez: 25:48

What is it about streaming that keeps you motivated? What keeps you coming back to it?

SquidDaBeast: 25:53

I'm going to sound like a broken record player like this, but people I see in chat just make my day. Like I can't have the, I have the worst days sometimes. And then I'm like, all right, I'm not even gonna put my camera on. And then I stream. Oh, I see the first five minutes of my stream. Where's squid at? Where your camera at? All right, I'll put the camera on. Oh, look at that. Look at that handsome guy right there. I'm like, all right, thank you. So they just cheer me up. streaming is honestly great for my mental health, which I did not like being on camera at all. But now it's like, all right, for y'all, I got y'all because y'all helped me out and I'm gonna help y'all By providing great content for y'all or as best as content as I can.

David Hernandez: 26:32

Special shout out to the calamari crew because as you can See you keep SquidDaBeast going. Is that right?

SquidDaBeast: 26:37

Yes, sir. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I appreciate y'all.

David Hernandez: 26:40

Well, very cool, Squid. So you've been a wonderful guest. but I have one last question before we close this taco show. you've obviously lived a very difficult life. I'd be foolish not to say otherwise. but throughout the entire time, you've always loved Pokemon. What is it about Pokemon that keeps you coming back?

SquidDaBeast: 26:57

story, like I've watched the anime, the anime has always been good to me. I loved every season of the anime. I loved every movie. I have seven of them still in this day. It's my collection. I have a bunch of YouTubers that, signed my first movie DVD. So I'm gonna bring that with me to GoFest this year. So if you're coming on down to New York and you would love to sign my movie with a bunch of other creators, you are more than welcome to. I'm getting a lot of signature this year. I guess I still have my memories as a kid. So the memories are looked on for Pokemon songs from back then when the show was airing. So I just love everything about Pokemon and just always keeps coming to me back. I don't know what it is, but I just feel like it's one thing I can always resort to. Lot of good memories

David Hernandez: 27:39

and memories to come because GoFest is not too far away And if you want to check out squid the beast because you're going to be entering his home turf He'll be in new york city. Are you going to be doing like some kind of meetup? Are you going to be going somewhere for people to come meet with you and hang out?

SquidDaBeast: 27:51

So the first one to meet up, yes, actually I already have a bunch of people That's all right squid we're gonna get behind you when you're gonna do a vlog and we're gonna sing your intro behind you and i'm like Y'all don't have to, y'all know that, right? We know, but we doing it anyway, I'm like. So you're just gonna hear a bunch of people behind me singing What's Up Danger and Can't Stop Me Now, cause that's my intro song for YouTube. we're thinking about doing karaoke, I already, I got roped into doing it, so I'm like, great. But at the same time, Saturday, I'm gonna be in my Spider Man costume at GoFest. So, yeah. If you see a white Spider Man, Future Foundation Spider Man walking around, that is me, so come say hi. I wear glasses and I will be wearing a mask on, so my glasses would not be on and I am blind as a bat, so if you see me, say hello, because if you walk past me, I'm not going to see anything. You got to come up to me like, hello, squid the beast. Can I get a picture? Or I'm this person because if my mask is off fine, cause I'll probably have my glasses on, but if I don't, and my mask is on, I will not know what's going on. I'm just letting you know that right now. So if you see me in a white Spider Man suit, please come say hello. There's been a rumor that they're gonna get me on stage at Go Fest, so. Oh yeah. And I'm like, why?

David Hernandez: 28:59

are we gonna hear you sing the Pokemon theme song for karaoke or you have like list of songs lined up?

SquidDaBeast: 29:03

Maybe I don't want to do it, but they said I gotta sing something. So maybe but anyway. Yeah, we'll see. So you're coming to go Fest. You see us Spider-Man Future Foundation. Please come say hello. I love meeting the people. So just tell me your name and get a picture or whatever. Come say hello.

David Hernandez: 29:20

Well, thank you for coming on the show. Before we do go, if people want to check out your content, where can they go? By all means, please plug away.

SquidDaBeast: 29:27

Well, thank you for having me. Number one. And number two, you can find me on all social media at squid the beast, S Q U I D D A B A S T. Twitch, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and anywhere else, SquidDaBeast.

David Hernandez: 29:40

Go Fest is coming up Hopefully we'll see you there. I'll make sure to include links to everything they have to set in the description of today's episode. Thank you for listening to As the Pokéball Turns. If you want to support the show, consider becoming a patron by either clicking the link in the description or going to patreon.com/asthepokéballturns. Now here's a sneak peek for the next episode of As the Pokéball Turns.