Random Today is my 15-year anniversary

On this day, 15 years ago, I played my first ever game of Pokemon on an online simulator. I didn't know much at the time. I thought Charizard, Nidoking, and Raichu were some of the best Pokemon. I thought having Body Slam and Hyper Beam on the same set was redundant. I though I was a good player, then I got destroyed in my first tournament match. I had a lot to learn.

I got my ass kicked for a while before I started to win more consistently. I discovered Slowbro and used it expertly to win my first tournament. I thought I was invincible. I thought I would never lose, then I got 6-0d by Venusaur. My team had weaknesses. I still had a lot to learn.

I tweaked my teams and kept playing, winning more than I ever would have imagined. I won 12 tournaments in one calendar year. I thought I was the best, then I lost to a Kabutops. I still had a lot to learn.

I studied my logs carefully. I frequently competed against top-level players. I entered as many tournaments as I could. I traveled to Brazil and then to the strange land of Germany, where I won the Weltmeisterschaft. Meanwhile, I also competed in France, Italy, and the Netherlands. I was considered by the some the best player in the world. I kept winning tournaments. I won the Triple Crown award for winning an RBY, GSC, and ADV tournament on the same calendar year. I thought I was the best, then people started building counter GGFan teams. I still had a lot to learn.

I experimented with new, more dynamic teams. I accumulated an amazing win-loss record on the Netbattle Global Casino Server two years in a row. I had a 90% win percentage against many of the best players. I moved onto Pokemon Online and revolutionized the metagame with a Friendly Starmie and a Beaming Gore. I was the most dominant player on the ladder with a combined 134-34 record, then I lost in the semi finals of a tournament. I still had a lot to learn.

I stopped relying on the same one or two teams, and started using different Pokemon and different movesets. I beat the best players Pokemon had to offer in tournament play. I was considered a top 2 player, then I lost to one player twice in a row. I still had a lot to learn.

I maintained a consistent record while surreptitiously creating an account on Smogon and, in the eyes of some, became a World Champion there. I was so good that I made the semi finals of a tournament without having to do anything, then I lost to a Star Wars addict. I still had a to learn.

I avenged my loss to the Star Wars addict by surreptitiously creating an account on SmogonJr this time and, in the eyes of many, became a World Champion there. I nearly won a prestigious season, then I got disqualified. I still had a lot to learn.

I took a more casual approach to the game, resting on my laurels a bit but still competed fiercely. I was set to win, then victory was snatched to me by none other than Lady Fortuna herself. I still had a lot to learn.

I stopped taking the game so seriously. I stopped caring about wins and losses. I decided that, regardless of my results, competing at a high level allows me to help the future generation of players. I enjoyed the game more than I had in ages. I genuinely started to have fun again. And, even with my new attitude, I have still found success. I placed in the top 3 of a tournament of champions and became a World Champion again. I still have a lot to learn, though.

 

Damn that's like 3/4 of my life ago... there's probably some users on this forum who weren't born when u started playing online.

 

15 years ago i was in the womb.

 

Odd enough that I discovered Porygons Simulator (Porygon´s Big Show?) around the same time, though I was 7 (or 8?) and barely got what was going on. Quite obvious that my 7/8 year old self got destroyed countless times.

Then I forgot about the whole thing only to remember it vaguely, which lead me to search for said Simulator, which then lead me to Pokemon Showdown.

 

http://porygon.math.miami.edu/

 

I love the attitude which you talked about here, you really are a student of the game. Hoping some of that rubs off on me!