Hi everyone.
For some context, I'm a first year Aerospace student. I go to one of the top universities in my country and have a pretty deep-rooted passion for aircraft, but I've really been struggling mentally recently; not only from this transition that has been much harder than I thought from high school to University, but everything that is going on with AI at the moment which has made me feel useless and has got me into this habit of using it to solve problems.
I'm very invested in GPT-4, and I still can't get over how quickly it can solve problems and to the depth it explains it. It just keeps getting better, and whenever I can't solve a problem, I put it into ChatGPT and get it to solve it for me. Afterwards, I feel absolutely awful. It's like watching an X-rated video only to feel disgraced after release; literally that feeling. I know using ChatGPT is literally long-term career suicide, but the assignments I've had have left me really burnt out (I know I'm a first year, I'm sure its nothing to people well into uni), and I keep resorting to this 'easier' option to solve problems, when I said to myself when it got released that I would only use it as a learning tool, not a replacement.
As an example, if I'm feeling the pressure and I have a quiz due one night, I use ChatGPT to answer most of the questions. It feels absolutely horrible as I know cheating is unfair for other students, but I cannot describe the impulse I get to use ChatGPT because it just makes life so 'easy.' Then, I delude myself into thinking I've learnt something once I've quickly skimmed over the information it spits out, and then I continue.
GPT4 has really upped the game too. It rarely gets complex math wrong now and I feel like I'm spiralling out of control. I really need some way to force myself to stop, but I don't know how. If you want me to drop out, that isn't happening, because I'm certain something can be done and won't give up.
Thanks.
Here is how Pokémon games could have differed in an alternate timeline in another universe:
November 2016: Pokémon Sun and Moon • Pokémon Sun and Moon and USUM release as
one game. To make it possible, the game scales back on gimmicks from USUM like Mantine Surfing, but we get Ultra Worlds, the Ultra Necrozma story, Team Rainbow Rocket and a bonus Zygarde story.
• Zygarde no longer appears in X/Y (MewTwo takes Zygarde's place in the cave).
• The climax of the game would merge USUM's with SM's story. After defeating a Lusamine merged with Nihilego, Necrozma appears appears and captures Solgaleo/Lunala, fusing with it. After being battled, it steals Alola's light and disappears into an Ultra Wormhole. The Ultra Recon Squad appear and you travel through Ultra Space to Ultra Megalopolis and face Necrozma.
• In the postgame, you face off against Team Rainbow Rocket, and unlock the ability to travel to Ultra Worlds freely.
• As for the Zygarde storyline, you will be given a cute Zygarde cell by a now older Dexio, who says he found it in Kalos (it still appears in anime) and believes it grows by absorbing either sun light (Pokémon Sun) or moon light (Pokémon Moon).
• While you can't battle with it, you can interact with and pat the Zygarde cell in Pokémon-Amie.
• In order to have it grow, you need to stand in spots around the region where the sun or moon light shine particularly bright. These aren't too hard to spot. Once you've absorbed enough light, the cell will grow into
10% forme. You need to absorb even more light for Zygarde 10% forme to be battle-ready.
• As Zygarde grows, Dexio will meet with you and monitor it. He notices it can regrow some dead plants in his lab. will also notice the growing bond between you and Zygarde. This mirrors the bond Lillie has with Cosmog.
• Once Zygarde reaches 50% forme (only possible in postgame) it will disappear to chase some Ultra Beasts that are disrupting the ecosystem. (These certain Ultra Beasts are only accessible via this storyline) You will fight with the aid of Zygarde, which will use the ecosystem around it to drain the Ultra Beast's powerful auras.
• Once you've defeated all the beasts, Zygarde can turn into its 100% forme. In its ultimate form, it will restore all the damage made to the ecosystem of Alola.
Other notes: To tie a loose end, an NPC mentions the unused train station in Couriway Town (Pokémon X and Y) is a remnant of a Kalos's old regional train network. It is there as a town landmark.
November 2017: Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu/Eeevee • Instead of another Sun and Moon game, which repeats a lot of the same story, Pokémon LGPE launches on Switch. It launches just a month after Mario Odyssey releases.
Apr 2018: Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee Expansion Pass Pokémon LGPE release a Johto expansion pass in Apr 2018. (Preorders begin in early January)
Depending on your game version, you can purchase either the Gold or Silver Pass.
You can access Johto via the Route 22 gate, even if you've just started LGPE.
• From the Route 22 gate, a driver takes you via car through a new path being constructed to Johto. You go the remainder of the way, through the cave gateway, until you reach New Bark Town.
• Lyra or Ethan will greet you. They have just moved into the previous main player's house. They want to introduce you to the professor. Prof. Elm asks you to deliver a Pokémon Egg to Mr. Pokémon. You discover the egg is rare, foreshadowing it will hatch into one of the Johto starters. (It will be the opposite type to your chosen Kanto starter)
• The other 2 Johto starters can be obtained in the Safari Zone later on.
• In the next city over, Cherrygrove City, rather than meeting a tour guide, Lyra/Ethan will touch base with you and hint the path to Mr. Pokémon's house.
• After meeting Mr. Pokémon, Lyra/Ethan appear and tell you heard Prof. Elm has been robbed, and they will escort you back to the lab. You will encounter rival Silver on the way, who will send Lyra/Ethan spinning away. You battle them, then go to the lab to name your rival and receive the egg from Prof. Elm. The storyline carries on quite similarly to HG/SS from this point forward.
• The Battle Frontier is replaced by the Master Tower, where you can request a battle with
Master Trainers, all in one place.
• The Game Corner is replaced by a Style Shop in Goldenrod City, where you can buy a range of outfits. You are also gifted several new outfits with the Expansion Pass.
• A slight alteration, Giovanni's disappearance is more recent.
• You also encounter Red at Mt Silver instead of Indigo Plateau.
• The Safari Zone is now a place where a mix of Pokémon from Kanto and Johto can be
battled. It is promoted as an ideal place to train Pokémon if you are taking on the Master Tower.
• You can catch either Ho-Oh or Lugia depending on your game pass.
• As there is no time jump, you can battle the new Elite Four members from HGSS - Will and and Karen - in the Master Tower.
• Once you've obtained the final badge, you can battle Lance in the Dragon's Den. You can also return to team up with Silver to battle Lance and Clair.
• Like in HGSS, Suicine is ultimately caught in Kanto. Suicine's location will appear on the map. You will encounter Euisine when you find it.
Nov 2018: Pokémon Sword and Shield Pokémon Sword and Shield are announced in late February, a month after preorders of Pokémon LGPE begin. When the game is released, Game Freak clearly state that more Pokémon will become available in future updates.
• The graphics are similar, though use lighter, more smoothed out surfaces like in Scarlet/Violet.
• The Wild Area is more enjoyable to traverse. You can now slide down slopes, and explore a couple new caves.
• The Galarian Star Tournament is included in the base game, and unlocked after becoming the champion.
• In the postgame story, there will be a few cutscene showing the large Dynamax'd Pokémon rampaging around. You will be able to see the huge Pokémon in the distance as you approach the gym.
• Following Pokémon are not implemented in the Sword/Shield Expansion passes.
Nov 2019: Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl • A more complete game preview is presented in February, including the Grand Underground, Secret Base Decorations, and a mission with Looker.
• The graphical style falls somewhere between LGPE and this timeline's BDSP. It is still faithful to the original world, while not being overly married to it (like repeating the same blocky trees). The visuals are built upon to make the world feel richer.
• The game bases its designs and storyline on D/P, rather than Platinum. e.g. the Galactic building is not so ostentatious like in Platinum, but low-key. Rather than trying to remake Platinum, it enhances D/P well enough that a Platinum remake isn't necessary.
• That being said, there is a new postgame quest involving Looker and Charon, who don't appear in the main story, and a more cinematic cutscene at Spear Pillar.
Spear Pillar Cutscene
where you see Cyrus's new world forming and the Lake Trio get into a skirmish with Dialga/ Palkia. They dodge Dialga/Palkia's mighty attacks, as we see people from around the region look up at the lightshow atop Mt. Coronet. (This fits in with the opening credits which shows lightning atop Mt. Coronet)
• Barry also stays by your side rather than running away.
• The cutscene furthermore builds up tension by having Dialga/Palkia about to strike you, when Mespirit launches a sneak attack, crumbling the Red Chain to ashes. Continuing the cinematic cutscene, Cyrus unleashes his rage and immediately begins the battle. As you battle him, the mighty Dialga/Palkia and you friends (including Dawn and Rowan) are seen watching in the background. Cyrus has more dialogue cut-ins during the battle, enraged that you are protecting a world that only lets people down.
Post - game Looker story
• Looker greets you at your house in the postgame, and tells you about remnants of Team Galactic hiding underground. You can either go to Snowpoint City to board the ferry or begin the Looker mission. You will help Looker track down a variety of Team Galactic bases hidden underground, which appear to be run by an evil scientist.
• Team Galactic are setting up machinery to monitor Mysterious Shards (which can be used to find legendary Pokémon at Ramanas Park), and are disturbing the wild Pokémon, as well as even kicking people out of their secret bases. You will also meet Mars and Jupiter underground, who agree to side with you to help thwart Charon's evil plans.
• A throwback to Platinum, Looker will disguise himself to corner and capture Charon.
Mars and Jupiter will move on, and Team Galactic will be done.
New Features
• Decorations appear in Secret Bases, replacing Statues.
• Certain kinds of Decorations can affect the kinds of Pokémon that appear in hide-aways.
Catching Giratina
• It's easier to obtain Origin Form Giratina - simply capture or defeat Giratina in Turnback Cave, and a Distortion Slate will drop.
• Take it to Ramanas Park, and enter the Distortion Room. The Distortion Room is now expanded into a passageway. The passageway shows off some cool visuals, as you make your way to Shadow Giratina and the orb.
Super Contests
• Pokémon now use their Moves during the contest. You can choose to perform to boost your points. As you hit the dance notes, your Pokémon moves in response, making Super Contests feel much more interactive.
• Fans will also gather in the hall after you win contests, including familiar faces.
Pokétch
• You can navigate up and down through apps.
Platinum teams
• All trainer teams, wild Pokémon and the Pokédex reflect the appearances in Pokémon Platinum. You can now battle Fantina as the third gym leader, or choose to skip past her to the next gym.
Battle Tower
• You can instantly battle familiar trainers from all around the region, including gym leaders and Stat trainers, by asking the attendant to request them. You don't need to build up a streak of 49 battles just to battle certain trainers (like Stat Trainers).
Following Pokémon
• All following Pokémon follow you closely, and larger Pokémon appear somewhat larger to
reflect a large appearance.