November 27, 2024 • 44 mins
In this Pokemon interview, we are joined by RocketClare, a Pokemon GO Trainer from Australia and Pokemon Worlds competitor in 2024.
RocketClare shares her initial entry into the Pokemon franchise starting with Pokemon GO where she attempted to develop ways to encourage both herself and her children to become more active outside. Despite her children losing interest in the game, RocketClare find the game engaging and beneficial to her mental health by meeting people and walking outside.
RocketClare speaks on her local community and how it led to her involvement with Pokemon GO PvP, starting with Silph Arena before transitioning to participating with Play Pokemon and competing. RocketClare also speaks on the importance of representation for women and how her involvement with GirlsThatPvP improved her experience with Pokemon GO PvP.
Sources
Opening Song: "Forget You" by Alex_MakeMusic from Pixabay
Connect with RocketClare: Twitter | Bluesky
Connect with David Hernandez: Linktree
E-mail Me: asthepokeballturnspodcast@gmail.com
Join Our Discord Community!
https://discord.gg/AqAbD7FbRt
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
RocketClare (00:00):
I am Rocket Clare and this is my Pokémon story.
David Hernandez (00:42):
Welcome to As the Pokeball Turns, where we
interview people about theirexperience with Pokemon.
My name is David Hernandez, andtoday, I'm joined by a wonderful
leader within the Pokemon Gocommunity, Rocket Clare.
Clare, welcome to the podcast.
RocketClare (00:58):
Oh, thank you so much for having me, David.
David Hernandez (01:00):
absolutely.
I was happy that you decided tocome on the show.
I look forward to kind of divinginto your experience with
Pokemon Go, which doesn't startwith the main series.
It actually just starts withPokemon Go.
you did a recent, world's trip.
You also are very involvedwithin the PVP community with
girls at PVP.
And I want to highlight all thatstuff.
And I'm excited to kind of hearthat kind of all unfold.
RocketClare (01:19):
Oh yeah, look, I'm really excited to be able to
talk about it.
This is one of my favouritetopics and, I don't think there
can be enough discussion,particularly about, how we
promote women and the thingsthat they're doing in PVP, and
just all the fun stuff, all thethings that make it such a great
game to play.
David Hernandez (01:36):
But let's start with the origin story.
Let's start with the beginning.
Like what's the chapter one,where does this journey start
off?
RocketClare (01:43):
So, back in 2016 when the game launched, I think
It had been out for about aweek.
I think I started about a weeklate.
I'd heard a bit in the newsabout this game called Pokemon
Go.
I had very young children at thetime and I thought, I think that
would be something that my kidswould really enjoy playing.
So I have three daughters.
they're now 17, 15 and butobviously back then they were
(02:04):
more of an age where I thoughtthis could be something fun to
do outside with them, which,When you've got three kids it's
always a challenge to try andthink of something that gets
them out and about and that theyenjoy doing.
So, uh, I downloaded the game.
And I took a little while tofigure out what was going on
because I, like you said,haven't played the main games.
And when I started playingPokemon Go, I didn't really get
(02:26):
the concept of even trying tocatch them in the ball.
I do remember, uh, the firstPokemon I tried to catch trying
to work out how you even threwthe ball.
Which is pretty embarrassing.
I don't think I've ever admittedthat to anybody.
But, uh, it was just, um, awhole new, a whole new
experience to me.
it went from there.
I sort of, I'm lucky in that Ilive Right near a park that has
a lot of Pokestop and I couldsee, you know, when the game
(02:49):
first started, it was justcrazy, right?
So people were out playing until3am in the morning.
I could see from my house,lawyers going all night, at
these Pokestops.
And, I'm sure that wasn't justin Australia.
I'm sure that was, worldwide.
There was, there was newsstories about, you know, people
chasing Snorlax spawns and.
all sorts of fun and excitingstuff.
It was just such a novelty andvery, very, addictive when you
(03:12):
see everyone else doingsomething and having so much fun
with it and then you're havingfun with it, it kind of builds
momentum, I think.
David Hernandez (03:17):
So you started because you had your daughters.
You were trying to find a way toget them out.
And kind of, I guess, do afamily kind of event.
Did your daughters also gethooked into the game when y'all
were starting?
Like, were y'all going, like, onfamily outings to the park that,
uh, where you stayed at andstuff like that?
RocketClare (03:30):
I have to be completely honest.
I think for me, I started doingit and I thought I'd play first
so that I could teach them whatto do.
And then I just got completelyhooked and definitely did, I
definitely started accounts forthem.
But, I don't know, they justweren't as interested as me.
They'd be a little bitinterested, but then they'd get
bored really quickly and go andwant to play.
Or whatever, which is also fine.
(03:51):
because, I was enjoying beingout while they were playing,
like I had something to do aswell and it was in the park.
So, yeah, it kind of workedreally well for me that first,
first year or so and definitelystarted to meet a lot of
players.
It was kind of weird to startoff with.
we didn't have established, wellcertainly here where I'm from,
which is, you know, I shouldprobably say a small country
town in Tasmania, which is thesmallest, or sort of the lowest
(04:14):
population area of Australia,the southernmost point.
so a bit remote, and it took awhile to get any sort of chats
established or discords oranything like that.
So initially everyone was justplaying, um, independently, um,
I think there were a couple ofFacebook groups start up, but
when the game started it wassuch an individual game as well.
Everyone was sort of battlinggyms and trying to kick each
(04:35):
other out of gyms, and it wasvery much about, I think there
were brag posts in the, in theFacebook chat, but it was more
about, Look at this fantasticPokemon I caught, or look how
much, my CP is now, and, youknow, trying to impress people,
or, or intimidate people, or, orall of that sort of thing.
It was very much, valor versusmystic versus instinct, and, and
all of that sort of thing, andnot so much collaboration or
(04:56):
working together.
So, I've definitely seen a hugeevolution of the game.
as a lot of people who've playedsince the beginning have.
and yeah, my kids kind of lostinterest pretty early on and I
started to want to meet and playwith other players and started
to just chat to people if I sawthem out and thought that they
(05:18):
looked like they were playingPokemon Go and catching Pokemon,
which you can kind of tell.
I would start a, strike up aconversation.
So Got to know a few people, andparticularly I'm in Team Mystic,
so we, in my area, yeah, in myarea, we, uh, we were a bit
outnumbered by Valor and,definitely had a lot of issues
holding gyms, so that became abit of a, I'm pretty
(05:39):
competitive, so that became abit of a, a focus for me
initially, trying to get theMystic players to band together
and hold some gyms and get thecoins that you could get at the
time much more readily from gymsif you managed to hold them.
So, that was more my focus then.
I think one of the most excitingand, and one of the things about
this game that has endured forme and has been the most
wonderful part of it has been, Iinitially in that first year met
(06:04):
so many people locally who I'dnever met before, even though
it's only a population of 15,000 people in my town and I'd
sort of grown up nearby andlived here most of my life.
there were just so many people.
Probably more of a youngergeneration than me because they
were people who played the maingames and naturally sort of just
progressed to Pokemon Go.
but I don't know just alldifferent walks of life.
(06:24):
There was a lot of familiesplaying as well but they were
just people I hadn't come acrossor met before and probably
wouldn't have if it hadn't beenfor the game.
And I've made some reallywonderful friends through that.
People who I now, you know,would happily go and have a
coffee with, or, you know, we'vedone stuff to help each other
out, you know, with our kids,or, or whatever else.
Community days have becomereally wonderful for us.
(06:44):
It's an opportunity for us tobook out, you know, the local
barbecue shelter, and, make it areal celebration, and, and all
chat about what we're catching,and chat to each other's kids as
well, and, walk around togetherand have a really fun time.
So that community side of it forme.
was an added bonus that Iprobably didn't appreciate as
much to start off with because Iwas so focused on playing the
game.
But, as time wore on and Istarted to realize that I've met
(07:06):
all these wonderful people, Ireally started to appreciate
that a lot.
So, yeah, that was sort of whatreally got me in at the start.
David Hernandez (07:13):
It sounds like even early on, you know, before
you even get to the PVP side ofthings, that you really valued
connection.
And I imagine, you know, youhave, you said you had three
girls, you know, your hands areprobably full, plus I'm assuming
you probably work and stuff likethat, whatever commitments that
come with, you know, being amother.
So it seems like that you valuejust being able to go out,
trying to rally the mysticpeople together, and you found a
way to connect with peoplethrough Pokemon, both older,
(07:35):
younger, through all differentages and stages of life.
RocketClare (07:37):
absolutely.
And anyone who knows me knowsthat I am a connector.
Like, I value my personal timeand my private quiet time, but I
also really enjoy socialconnections with people.
And I have to say as well, thegame started at a time that was
significant for me because myyoungest daughter was at home.
She was only one and I'd beenthrough a particularly difficult
(07:57):
period.
I'd lost my mother, whensomething like that happens,
it's, it's terrible enough.
But I also had a baby and I wassort of stuck at home, not
working at the time.
I had had a break from work.
So, um, I can't tell you howisolating that can feel,
particularly if you are someonewho really enjoys making
connections and interacting withpeople.
So, I really feel like my storywas one of it was definitely
right time, right place.
(08:19):
I could get out with the pram.
I could have the phone runningon Pokemon Go.
It's so important to be able tofeel like you're not trapped and
not, sort of, you can't leavethe house.
So to be able to get out, walkaround, get that very important
exercise, which is so good tolift your spirits, get some
sunshine, fresh air, all ofthose things.
I really do believe that waslife changing for me and it came
(08:39):
at a really good time.
Particularly as, when you talkabout connections and meeting
new people, I'd sort of lost alot of connections that I had
before.
through my workplace at thetime, and I was feeling, like I
said, you know, pretty isolated.
So, yeah, meeting new people atthat time was great.
David Hernandez (08:53):
You know, it makes a huge difference,
especially when you go throughthat kind of trauma, because for
me, I lost my dad that sameyear.
I lost him early 2016.
And you know, I was young on theyoungest side.
I was like 25, 26, and nobodyelse around me had ever, at
least my friend wise, had lost aparent before.
So it
RocketClare (09:10):
I reckon.
David Hernandez (09:10):
isolating in that fact because it was like.
I mean, it's hard for me to kindof connect with people who
something you've neverexperienced before.
That's not what just lost, butthat's, it's anything.
And, you know, I felt like I waskind of very on my own to a way.
And, you know, I was trying to,you know, wrap up with the
effect of not having your parentat that age.
And then, you know, Pokemon gocomes out and.
At the time I was still mourningwhat is, you know, in a way, but
(09:33):
it helped me kind of get out tokind of connect with old
friends, new friends, becauseeverybody was playing Pokemon,
right?
And like you, it allowed me tokind of step out and just
connect with the franchise thatI've grown up with.
So I'm more of a Pokemon fromgen one guy, but it allowed me
to kind of reconnect with thefranchise that, you know, I've
loved really for a long time.
RocketClare (09:50):
I just love hearing that you were so young as well,
and I'm so glad for you that itwas there at that time.
Again, another story of thetiming couldn't have been more
perfect.
David Hernandez (09:59):
Well, I never even thought about that.
I'm like, wait, I lost my dadthat same year.
That makes actually a lot ofsense that she says that.
I've never connected beforeuntil you came on the podcast.
So it was great.
RocketClare (10:09):
I, I had a friend that I made through, through the
game as well who suffered from,chronic anxiety and she had told
me that she was at a point whereShe just couldn't bear to be
around anyone.
She'd had some really badexperiences in her life, and she
would just stay home and notwant to leave the house.
And again, it got her out of thehouse.
But not only that, like, she wasTeam Mystic.
(10:31):
So I was onto her.
And I managed to tap intosomething in her that was super
competitive.
So despite the fact that she wastoo shy to even speak to me, But
we would be in the chat and I'dbe like, Come on, come on, we've
got to get out there and getthese gyms back.
And it kind of egged her onbecause she, she was quite a
competitive person inside well.
And it, She said to me so manytimes over the following years
how much it changed her life.
So, over the next two years, sheactually managed to get out of a
(10:54):
bad relationship, go back toschool, and do some pre course
subjects that meant she couldthen, Do a course in um, uh, it
was caring for people withdisabilities.
And she's now working in thatfield.
And she had been at a pointwhere since she'd left school,
she'd left school early becauseof the issues she'd had at home.
And she hadn't been working thatwhole time.
(11:14):
So, I truly believe, and she,she believes that the, the game
was the starting point, for herto be able to make some of those
connections, to feel confident.
myself and a couple of otherfriends were able be referees
for her when she was looking forwork.
Like, it was just a massiveturnaround for her and just such
a good news story.
So, I'm sure there's manystories like this about the
game.
I believe there would be.
David Hernandez (11:35):
Eventually you know, the game progresses.
Were you able to stick with thegame throughout, or did you take
any breaks before the PVP side?
RocketClare (11:40):
I am such a, I never give up.
Like, there were times when itfrustrated me so much,
particularly early days, whenthere were so many glitches for
the first, I think it was prettybad first, I know it was
terrible the first few monthsand there were so many issues,
but I think that went on forquite some time, didn't it?
I can't actually recall it'sgoing back so far, but I just, I
just stuck with it anyway.
Like, I'm very kind of focused,I think I hyper focused on which
(12:03):
says a lot about me, but, uh, itwas just one of those where.
I don't know, it was my escape,and, you When I went back to
work after having Kira, I coulddo my work and I could do my
stuff around the house.
I could do my stuff with thekids, but this was for me.
And think as a working mum, alot would relate.
you need some stuff foryourself.
And I'd played competitive sportas well, All my life and the
(12:24):
last one that I was stillsticking with was hockey.
but that's very hard on yourbody.
And I think I had my last seasonof hockey.
Well, I think it was my lastseason a couple of years ago.
I may still go back I don'tknow, play masters or something.
But at this stage I'm having arest from that cause it's just
so hard on the body.
but I've I still need thatoutlet and I need something
that's for me.
And I need something that I cancompete in and feel like I'm
(12:44):
achieving something.
That's just, I know that's who Iam.
So, what a great way to be ableto.
Continue to do that withoutneeding a wheelchair the next
day to be able to play it onyour phone.
It's still good.
David Hernandez (12:55):
hockey's violent sport.
Yeah.
RocketClare (12:58):
Well, I'm talking field hockey, not ice hockey.
I should probably clarify.
David Hernandez (13:02):
I mean, that's even worse.
RocketClare (13:04):
Ice hockey.
What I've seen looks prettycrazy.
I don't think I could managethat.
I think that would be so, like,it's hard enough without having
to do it on ice skates.
David Hernandez (13:13):
I don't know, I feel like field hockey has more
of a no rules bar, almost,basically.
At least we got some referees.
RocketClare (13:18):
yeah.
Oh, I kind of like that.
I didn't
David Hernandez (13:20):
That's
RocketClare (13:24):
you've got be uh, keep, keep your, uh, speed up.
And, if you can sort of musclesomeone off, that's better than
skills sometimes.
I've had my share bruises andblack eyes out of it.
But, yeah, you do get to an agewhere you're like, Oh, yeah, I
don't think I can go to work ablack eye on Monday morning.
That wouldn't Ha,
David Hernandez (13:42):
right?
It's like, what, are you okay athome?
Like, yeah.
RocketClare (13:46):
Yeah, that's true, actually.
I never thought of that.
David Hernandez (13:49):
but you know, diving into the competitive side
with you getting the PVP, itseems like it's like a natural
fit your competitor and youknow, PVPs, you know,
competitions, one against one,you got into it because from my
understanding, your community isvery active, right?
RocketClare (14:00):
That's right.
Yeah.
Oh, I was super lucky in thissense.
There's a couple of guys inparticular that kept saying,
probably six months before PvPcame out, because it was teased
for a long time, and they keptsaying, we can't wait for PvP.
And I'd be like, what's thisPvP?
What are they even talkingabout?
I've never done anything likethat.
I didn't realise that that wassuch a key part of the Pokémon
games.
(14:20):
I just really learnt, you know,what I needed to know about,
about raiding, and that sort ofthing.
And actually, I should say,raiding really changed the game
as well, because we went from acommunity that was divided
amongst the three teams, to acommunity that, if we were going
to be able to beat any of theraids, because in early days
they were so tough.
We had to band together and wehad to start joining our chats
together.
So you didn't just have a Mysticchat and a Valor chat or an
(14:43):
Instinct chat.
Like everyone was in the samechat and helping each other and
getting to know each other.
And that was a big part.
That was a huge turning point.
I'm actually so glad that thegame changed like that because
it changed from sort of dividingthe community to us all working
together.
And, you know, we became areally close knit group here in
Ulverston.
and then, yeah, further to that,Two of the local guys loved PvP
and, you know, as soon as itbecame apparent that that was
(15:04):
going to be something that wecould do and we could battle
each other, they were saying,come on, Clare, let's battle.
And I would like, oh, know whatto do.
I'm pretty sure I just did autorec the first few times they
sent me invites because know.
Anything about what Pokemon tochoose or what my best Pokemon
were.
I'm sure they, it would behilarious see, if I could see a
video of that now.
I do have some really old battlevideos actually, but maybe not
(15:25):
from quite that far back.
Um, but yeah, and then somethingin me would be like, I get
beaten all the time, but I hatethat.
I hate losing.
And I just think, well, I've gotto try and figure out how I can,
you know, win.
how win and would continue topractice because I'm very
determined.
And like I said, I've got anever give up attitude.
So we would just send each otherbattle invites because this is
(15:48):
before there was even grassrootstournaments or anything.
So it was just send someone aninvite.
and play them.
Um, but, oh
David Hernandez (15:57):
even before like there was tips or those
even before metas.
people were really trying tofigure out what was good at PvP.
So you didn't have any, youreally just went with kind of
rumors of the playground in away, right?
RocketClare (16:08):
yeah, absolutely.
I had no idea.
People who'd played the maingames definitely had more idea.
but it was still, I mean themechanics were all pretty
unknown and IVs were unknownstill at that stage I believe.
I think IVs but didn't reallyknow how that translated into
gameplay or, Or advantages ordisadvantages.
(16:29):
So yeah, fun times.
I haven't thought about thatwhile, but, the next thing that
happened was, Silph did thatwonderful thing they did, which
was to start up, um, Silphtournaments and measures, which.
the beginning of making itreally fun for me and for a lot
of people, I think, because itmeant that our local community
could hold our own tournamentsin person and everyone could
(16:51):
join, you know, kids joined,whole families, we'd get a
really good turnout and I've gotto say, the guy that, was our
first, I guess, tournamentorganiser.
Did an amazing job, like heprovided prizes.
He provided prizes not just forthe people who won but, also for
the people with the most uniqueteam or the most spicy team.
Which kind of encouraged the funof it because it meant that even
(17:13):
if someone thought, well I don'tthink I'm going to be able to do
any good, they'd still joinbecause they could maybe win the
spicy team prize.
So that, I think, really fun andhelped to make sure everyone
just It didn't become too muchlike ship stations and people
would still participate, whichgood.
And, I think I did okay in myfirst couple of tournaments, but
not great.
(17:34):
Like, obviously, had a lot tolearn, and the more experienced
players would take those out.
I did start listening to, aroundthen, when there were actual
metas and themes for the cups,people started making, content
that you could watch to learnabout what to use and some of
the first videos that I watchedto try and understand what was
(17:55):
going on and what I should betrying to use and what was good
against what was Purple Kyogreactually.
Um, yeah, so I watched a heapvideos.
so shout out to him.
He's a great guy.
I've actually managed to meethim America when I was over
there.
So that great.
and just watched a few others,but I think back then the people
that were making content perhapsweren't so much the ones that
(18:17):
are now.
So, I think there were a fewthings available online that I
started to study, and I'd makeall these notes.
I'd make, I'd have a notebookand I'd write all this stuff
down, which probably reallydifficult to remember, but
that's kind of how I learned so.
Yeah, just started out like thatand would turn up and
eventually, join some discordswhere I was practice other
people more and prepare betterfor the tournaments and that
(18:38):
made a huge difference.
David Hernandez (18:40):
When you reflect on those early days of
PvP, what was the biggestchallenge for you with somebody
who didn't have experience withPokemon to kind of learn the
meta and learn the games?
Like, what were you, what do youremember like finding it most
difficult?
RocketClare (18:52):
I definitely feel like, I remember going through
the same learning curve that Isee everyone go through now when
they're beginning, and that isthings like just using all your
shields up too early, notknowing how much of a move your
Pokémon can tank, and so youshield things that you shouldn't
and waste them.
or even just things like notunderstanding.
typings, because that is not asclear cut, like, some of them
(19:14):
are logical and some are notreally that logical, and,
David Hernandez (19:17):
Right.
RocketClare (19:18):
and resistances, I still struggle with those
sometimes, don't tell anybody,but, but I sometimes I say, oh,
I think this resists, but itdoesn't, so I, you know, I
still, I studied those charts alot as well back then, because
it's not as clear cut as youwould, as you would think.
Which is what makes itbrilliant, to be honest.
If it was really obvious, Idon't think it'd be as fun and
(19:39):
as intriguing.
Like, one of the best partsabout it is that sometimes it's
really intricate to understandall the, all the ways that
things work and the ways thatPokemon can resist or typings
can resist or work, work againsteach other or work together.
So that took a lot, I think,from memory.
It was probably one of the mainthings.
David Hernandez (19:57):
and you know, for me, like I said, going back,
you know, I grew up with thefranchise, so I've had the
chance to kind of progress withthe typing's, yes, they've been
the change, but what changes isthe mixtures, for example,
water, ground.
Electro community and but fourtimes we took grass when you get
into more complex typings likethe grass water or if you get
into like psychic ground likestuff all the you know as much
(20:18):
as i love to see the types usedit also makes it more learning
curve and more daunting becausenow you're coming straight from
pokemon go you were having tolearn 15 years of types and
combinations and the pokemon ontop of that that's that's
daunting for anybody i wouldn'teven know how to address that
you know
RocketClare (20:35):
Oh, and your mind has to work so quickly as soon
as you see that symbol as itcomes in.
You've got think so fast.
what you need to do next.
Am I going to switch out?
I'm going to throw a move?
Am I going to farm?
And yeah, some of them are soconfusing.
I can't tell you how hard Ifound things like, like it's
easy now because it's been in somuch use, but things like
Gligar.
What is that?
(20:56):
Ground flying?
Like what?
Makes no sense.
What I use against that?
Like, oh, you think you know,you just think, start to get to
a point where you think youknow, you know, what the best
thing is to use.
And then you come across aPokemon go, oh, That one's a
really weird combination.
David Hernandez (21:47):
Now, eventually you got involved with girls at
PVP.
When did that kind of happenwithin your Pokemon Go journey?
RocketClare (21:53):
Yeah, so that happened actually, yeah, not
like that long after the Silphtournament started.
I was enjoying the Silphtournaments, enjoying my local
community.
I joined because with Silph, todo well on the, um, on the
rankings, the more tournaments,You did the better to an extent,
and I was already doing thelocal ones, which was fine, but
wanted access to moretournaments.
So I joined, actually ourAustralian discord, Arena
(22:15):
Australia, shout out to thoseguys.
So it was fantastic that thatwas started up initially.
So the Australian battlers allgot an opportunity to have,
Silph tournaments within ourlobbies.
and then from there, one of theguys in there was talking, He
was in my lobby and he wastalking about his girlfriend and
that she plays and that shejoined girls PVP and I was like,
what's this girls at PVP?
It sounds fantastic.
Cause I had really noticed thatI was one of the few women that
(22:37):
were playing locally.
There were, there were a few ofus, but I could definitely see
the disparity already at thatstage.
And definitely once I joineddiscord tournaments, um, it was
definitely probably only about20 percent women, which is still
a lot higher than sometournaments that you see.
But, I'd noticed the difference.
And look, it wasn't too dauntingfor me because I work in a very
male dominated industry in my,day to day work.
(22:58):
So I wasn't daunted orintimidated by it, but I did
sort of wonder about it andwonder where all the women were.
I wasn't really sure why thereweren't more women around
playing, um, and why it wasmostly guys.
So I still don't, still notreally sure.
We, we know, the full answer tothat but we might get to it.
so I somehow managed to get alink, because it's obviously
only by invitation to join theserver.
(23:19):
So back then actually it washosted on the JFARM server, and
you had to be verified that youwere female to join and that all
happened and it was still fairlysmall then and it was really
mainly a channel, for women todiscuss their experiences to do
with battling and to encourageeach other and give each other
advice and I found it absolutelyamazing as soon as I joined.
(23:40):
Like, There were so many reallycool women in there from all
over the world and from allwalks of life.
And I still remember some inparticular who have probably
long stopped playing because Ihaven't heard from them for
ages, but some of them were justso fantastic.
They, their knowledge wasamazing.
They were really, really greatbattlers and really impressive
and had achieved some fantasticstuff.
(24:01):
And I will always be drawn topeople like that who share their
knowledge and who help others.
And I know, I remember postingquestions about stuff that now I
look back that was a really,such a basic noob question, but
everyone just had patience.
Like, I think that was one ofthe premises of having a space
like that was, you won't beridiculed, you know, you will be
(24:23):
welcomed and encouraged andthere's no need to feel
intimidated or shy because weare going to help you be the
best can be.
And that was definitely the vibeand the feel that I got and I
really felt like I'd found ahome.
David Hernandez (24:37):
It makes a huge difference, right?
Because there are a lot of,people.
who we think, Oh, you shouldalready know this.
Like, how do you not know, youknow, grass beats with fire.
I'm sorry.
Fire beats grass or, you know,whatever have you, like we all,
uh, there's people who thinkthat.
they, everybody thinks like themand they're not, fact, add the
fact that plus, you know, ifyou're a, woman in a male space,
generally y'all are going to bethe minority, you know, that's
(24:58):
the reality, right?
And, but that, but like yousaid, it makes it safe space to
have that server to go to, tokind of be willing to ask the
quote unquote stupid question.
Although it really isn't astupid question.
You're just trying to learnwithout having to face ridicule.
RocketClare (25:10):
a hundred percent and ridicule is a big thing and
I'll probably touch on this now.
It is really difficult, even forme.
today to be on stream or tostream your battles and I can
guarantee you that if it is awoman battling she will cop so
much more flak than a guy andpeople probably won't like me
saying that or probably arguewith me but I don't mind putting
it out there because I'vewitnessed this, I've experienced
(25:30):
it.
You can be on stream and you canplay just as well as the guy
that played before you or justas badly but you will cop
criticism for every decision youmake, even if you actually are
doing something, becausesometimes it's not always
apparent when you're battling,you might do something that
someone else is watching andthinks, Oh, I'll never do that.
She's going to lose now.
and it's interesting becauseSometimes you actually do have a
(25:52):
reason to do it, and maybeyou've timed it wrong, or you
haven't done it right, but youdon't have the benefit of seeing
where, you know, what they'vegot in back, or, or anything,
but people don't give you thatgrace at all, because they're
watching the stream, they cansee what moves, you know, your
opponent has in the back, so theridicule aspect is something
that I've found really difficultto adjust to, in the game and
probably one of the negativesthat I wish we could get past
(26:13):
because it can actually be quiteunpleasant to watch a stream and
to have people being, you know,treated like that when honestly
they really are doing the bestthey can and a lot of people who
are commenting wouldn't evenhave got to that position of
being on stream.
So,
David Hernandez (26:25):
Now, how important has the PVP server
been within, you know, your PVPjourney and your Pokemon
journey?
RocketClare (26:31):
I would say, especially in the early days,
incredibly important.
I felt a great deal ofsolidarity.
I've been fairly fortunate inthe circles that I move in that,
I have not felt too intimidated.
There have been times when Ihave felt some of the locals
perhaps.
probably more broadly, just inthe community itself, I feel
like the movement itself playssuch an important role at
(26:52):
holding people accountable.
So, early days, there were someissues online and so on, people
saying things about womenbattlers and so on, and they
definitely got challenged veryearly on, and I, I really see
that now.
And I think that's a credit toall of the pioneers of that
movement that, would speak upfor women and make sure that we
had our say and that we weren't,treated poorly or, or ridiculed
(27:15):
or, or left out.
so I, I definitely think now Isee barely any of that and it
just is accepted that girls atPVP are here to stay and that
we're growing and that we'regoing to continue to encourage
and try and, and build thecommunity of women amongst the
community.
David Hernandez (27:30):
Now, you know, Clare, you started with just
somebody who had very littleexperience and you didn't know
how to use shields to somebodywho gets on the road to worlds
here in 2024, you know, it'ssuch a huge evolution.
Right?
Talk to us.
Like, what is it like to kind ofget to worlds?
Like the journey to get therestarting, you know, in Perth and
trying to earn your spot there.
RocketClare (27:50):
Yeah.
It's so interesting because Icompeted in Play Pokémon events
really.
In Australia, unfortunately, wedon't have many anyway.
we only have maximum of threeyear.
And when it was announced thatPlay Pokémon would start holding
these live regional events, Itwas exciting.
However, it was alsointimidating for me because it
(28:11):
was very much touted as you willhave to qualify to compete in
the regional.
So I don't know if you remember,but when it was first announced,
it was kind of, you know, youmust be a legend battler and you
must you must that.
And people had to apply.
And I thought, I took it yeah, Iit as, to even compete in a
regional, it wouldn't just opento everyone.
And I definitely that stage hadvery much of a, Even though I'd
(28:34):
done quite well in grassrootstournaments.
I still very much felt I hadimposter syndrome.
I didn't think that I was thatperson.
I knew there were many, manygreat battlers in Australia who
I look up to and who I still,you know, learn from and
fantastic and I love to see themdo well.
didn't really put myself in thatcategory at all.
mostly because we've beenthrough COVID and you know it
(28:56):
was funny the first Australianregional was in St Kilda,
Melbourne of years ago and itwas the first time I'd met most
face to face because we justbattled each other online we'd
become friends online and gotalong great but you know to
actually meet them face to facewas so exciting and that was one
of the main reasons I wanted togo to Melbourne.
it's a one hour flight from hereand obviously have to get
accommodation on because so it'snot it's not simple it's not
(29:17):
cheap I really enjoyed justmeeting everyone and seeing
everyone was super excited justabout that.
So that's kind of what drove meto start and I think I came, top
16 in Melbourne.
I'm not 100 percent sure, So,That was nice.
I got some card packs, I think,and, and, you know, enjoyed
myself a lot.
But then that was it.
You know, I just, I just playedthat and I was really impressed.
(29:40):
I loved being able to the otherbattlers play and I loved the
four guys that qualified fromAustralia who went to Worlds
that year.
It was in London.
I was super excited to watchthem play and support them and,
that was about it.
the following year we actuallyhad the first and only ever
OCIC, in Australia, inMelbourne.
And Melbourne being the closest,regional for me anyway, that was
(30:00):
perfect.
So going to that was superexciting because we had Actual
casters who you only ever see onTV, haha, attend.
Um, we had King come and be ajudge, which was awesome.
Um, and Cindy came and competedand we had, Caleb and Speedy
and, Butters, all come over andcast, which was just so cool.
(30:20):
And just walking into the hall,when we had that regional was
Just mind blowing just all ofthe setup for the stream and the
way everything was decorated Itwas just so cool compared to
what I'd already experienced andI really just felt so much
excitement to be participating,and you know, I prepared
reasonably well for that.
I kind of got the hang ofpreparing for tournaments
because most of the tournamentsI've done grassroots were show 6
(30:43):
3 anyway.
So that ended up being a greatgrounding, I think, for play
Pokemon.
I was fortunate in that sense.
And I'd prepared reasonably welland I up coming, I think, equal
ninth, you know, CIC, I washappy with, and again, you know,
won some cards, which great,which I've still got.
I haven't opened them yet.
That's a bit of a
David Hernandez (31:01):
Oh, that's cool.
Yeah.
RocketClare (31:02):
all the cards that I've won.
I haven't sold or opened any ofthem.
They're all sitting there, so.
One day I'm either going to havea heap of fun opening or, or
something, but
David Hernandez (31:10):
that'd hard.
yeah.
would not want to open them.
That'd be difficult.
RocketClare (31:14):
I'm a bit of a hoarder, so yeah, sitting there,
sitting there as prizes still.
But it was encouraging because Ifelt like I was improving and
getting better results eachtime, and then after that was
the year that, I did quite well.
So I first of all did theMelbourne tournament where I
came third, which was shockingbecause, well, I'd prepared well
and I had a team I was andconfident because you just never
(31:36):
know what's going to happen atthese tournaments, but I was
happy enough that I'd preparedand I was playing well, so that
was great.
I literally just kept taking itone battle at a time, played
some awesome players, anddefinitely overcame a few,
demons for myself as far as,once I got to like the third
round, I was playing, fish on aheater who's quite an
accomplished player.
(31:57):
in the year before and andtraveled to worlds the year
before and I lost the firstbattle against him.
So in a best of three losing thefirst battle is pretty difficult
because you know then yourback's up against the wall you
have to win the other two.
But also for me mentally part ofthe mental game for me had been
As much as I've tried to,previously, if I'd lost the
first, I'd kind of almost, notgive up, but I'd put so much
(32:20):
pressure on myself to win afterthat, because I have to win,
have to win, that it couldsometimes, be counterproductive.
So, I'd done a lot of mentalpreviously in, in grassroots
tournaments to, make sure that Iworked past that.
And, take the benefit out ofthat loss.
At least now you know what monsthey're using.
learned some valuableinformation about, who wins CMP
or whatever else.
(32:40):
And we just write down all thethings that I've learned from
that, so that I go into the nextbattle as prepared as possible.
So, I think for the next threerounds I played, I lost the
first battle.
I think it was FishonaHeaterand, um, and then Anacor.
I, managed to win the second andthird battle and come back just
pure, the mental work that I'ddone.
(33:01):
So that was a huge achievementand I, try really hard to look
at, no matter how I go or, youknow, if I bomb out or I don't
do as well as expected, I thinkabout What are the things that I
worked on and still went well?
Because that's still a winner.
I sometimes you can't wineverything and you just have to
take the learnings and look atwhere you've improved and the
things that you've worked on andhow that's benefited you just so
(33:22):
that you know that you're stillprogressing and moving forward.
So mentally I felt like that ahuge breakthrough.
Um, and then I was, really happyto continue on through that
tournament and make it today to,to the top four and win my first
round of, of day two againstAvrip to progress to top three.
I was defeated by Triple Crit soI actually lost to Triple Crit
(33:42):
twice.
He was the person that knockedme out.
Um, he was the only person Ilost to at Melbourne and good
friend of mine and greatbattler.
still absolutely stoked to betop four and to come third in
So, got quite a few, points,towards Worlds from that, and
prize money which was reallynice.
and some more cards.
I think one of my favoritememories was I don't even know
(34:02):
which round it was, butpotentially, I think, I had a
big break.
So after my first loss to tripleI was sitting at, I think, one,
two, three, four, one, four,one, and there was a huge break,
because then I went to lose thisbreak, and I had to wait for all
of them to catch up.
So I had some lunch, and I cameback in, and Yakovovich, who you
probably know of, he's the, Oneof Australia's best battlers
actually walked up to me andwe're friends.
(34:23):
We've played, you know, on thesame team in, um, a couple of,
like gym breakers and also inbattle frontier.
And he just came up to me and hesaid, do you realize that now,
no matter what happens, you'vewon.
He said, I think you've wonabout, oh, you know, 1, 000
American, which in Australia isabout 1, 500.
And I was just, no way, no, no.
(34:44):
Are you serious?
Like, I hadn't even realised howfar I'd progressed, or that I'd
gotten I could actually winmoney out of this game that I
play.
And to me, I really got quiteemotional, and it wasn't about
the money.
It was about, I can't believethat I actually am good enough
to win some money I'd neverthought of myself in that.
category of battlers, I guess.
And I know Rick Flareon, whoprobably also know of, one of
(35:04):
the great Australian battlers,he was there as well.
And they were both just sort ofgrinning away because I got all
emotional and then like, Rickhad to turn away, you see,
because was so emotional it'smaking him emotional.
It's like, it was just abeautiful moment, I think,
amongst friends and people thatlove this game and have battled
together for a long time.
And, you know, to, to hear itfrom guys who I'd admired for
such a long time in theirprowess in the and to feel like
(35:25):
I was.
that crowd was just amazing.
So that was a huge breakthroughtournament for me.
And really when I started tobelieve that I could this and,
for me, self belief is huge.
And I think that's also a bigpart of helping women to believe
that they can succeed.
I think it's important to seeother women succeeding, to know,
Well, I could do that too.
(35:46):
And I actually really want toshout out to Cindy at this point
too.
The time when Cindy won theVancouver, Play Pokemon
tournament, I was so in awe ofher and so amazed and impressed.
And I actually feel like thatwas when I first started to
believe women can do this.
We're so outnumbered, but we cando it.
So I think that's reallyimportant for be able to role
model, on someone.
(36:07):
And I, I take that reallyseriously.
David Hernandez (36:10):
You know, you touched on so many things.
We're just talking about yourexperience, trying to get to
worlds, you know, one hand youtalk about the mental side in
regards to people don't thinkabout that.
not just like counting moves,not just knowing types.
It's exhausting.
It's a gauntlet trying to getthrough two days of constant
battling.
And then you didn't mention it,but you actually had a buy
before you even faced fish onthe heater.
(36:30):
So you were constantly on edge,you know, with the and they want
to put you on the screen.
So constantly just want to, youknow, ideally, you know, if you
go in there, you want to just goahead and get it over with, like
nerves already on, let's justbattle.
Let me win or lose.
You had a way to buy.
Then you had a way more just toget on the screen before
battling fish.
So.
You had both that going for youtoo.
RocketClare (36:50):
So yes, so that was at the Perth tournament
actually.
My first round was a buy, whichI'd never had before and it was
actually the worst.
I remember, I rememberpreviously I'd seen people have
buys in the first round and Ialways oh lucky bastard, like it
seems you're sort of getting afree ticket into the next round,
which I don't know, everyoneelse is battling and I'm staring
(37:11):
into space getting more and morenervous, and wondering who was
going to win, the pairing Thatperson would then be who I
faced.
And yes, you're right.
Then, after that, Fish and Iwere about to battle and they
said, Oh no guys, please stop,you're on, uh, wait, waiting for
stream just in case.
You're not definitely going tobe streamed, but we need someone
to stand by in case.
So we really got held up withour battle and, you know, get
(37:32):
more and more nervous and it wasso coincidental as well because,
Fish was actually running a teamthat was really fantastic team.
It was, um, it had Shatter forAlligator and, Guzzlord and,
Which was really big at thetime.
plus a couple of others.
And that team in particular wasvery tricky for my team to
handle.
And I knew that because it was anon team that I'd been
(37:53):
practicing against and reallystruggling to beat.
So that was adding to my nervesas well.
So all of that definitely doesadd up.
You're right.
And, when we went into thebattle, um, Fish played
excellently.
And I went down 0 2.
So I lost my first round.
So, once again, the mental gamecomes into it.
You know, am I going toabsolutely bomb out of this
tournament?
Was Melbourne just a fluke?
(38:13):
Should I, should I, should Ireally have flown all the way to
Perth just to try and qualifyfor Worlds?
Like, oh my goodness.
There is so much, that goes intoit and I think something that's
helped me too is talking to moreand more of the top battlers and
realising that I'm not alone.
it's not just me that has thoseself doubts and that a lot of
them do think about, all ofthose things and, It's hard
(38:34):
sometimes, so yeah, you canthink you've got imposter
syndrome because you're a girltrying to do something, or
you've never played the maingames, or whatever, whatever
other, many reasons that I mighthave for having imposter
syndrome, but you're not alone.
It is, a big part of it is themental game on top of all the
game mechanics, understanding,and the counting, and so on, and
I think if you can eliminatethat mental stress, then that's
a big key to it, and I see someof the best battlers on stream
(38:57):
in the big tournaments.
do that, really well.
Like, they just are so relaxed.
And you can see people likeLurgen Rocket or Inadequence.
You can just see their wholedemeanor as they're battling.
Like, they're giving littlesmirks to their opponent or
they're making little kind offun, like, jokes or whatever.
And I think to be able to dothat and still be locked in and
still play as well as they do ispretty incredible.
(39:18):
So that's a big part of it, I'msure.
David Hernandez (39:20):
Now, you said earlier how you didn't really
put yourself into that category.
Somebody who can go around andwin tournaments.
Why didn't you feel like youwere a top battler at the time?
And do you still feel that way?
Even after going to worlds?
RocketClare (39:32):
I just think it's my nature.
I think that I'm really, likeeven playing sport, I've always
been someone who's been happy tobe a member of the team and to
work hard on my fitness and todo as well as I possibly can,
but I never expect to be thestar.
I just want to, I just want toenjoy myself and do my best.
And I don't know if that'sdetrimental to myself.
(39:52):
I think it probably has been inthe past.
But.
There comes a point where Ithink you do well enough that do
start to have some self beliefand that confidence has really
helped me.
the confidence of going Worldsbeen amazing.
Like, I loved Worlds.
It was a fantastic event.
It was so great being aroundeveryone.
One of the things I enjoyed themost was once I was out watching
(40:14):
on stream all the amazingplayers.
I got so much out of it.
I learned so much.
but it was hugely stressfulcompeting.
Like, I But, you know, you're upagainst the absolute best
players.
And I had a pretty good run.
Like, I played the Japanesechampion first round.
And he won the first and then wetied the second battle.
and then he won the third, whichwas really, really close as
(40:36):
well.
So I felt like I, you You know,gave him a good run his money.
And I learned a lot from thatand I won my second round, which
was fantastic.
I, feel I played quite well thatone.
And then, in my third round Idid lose, but again, I think
like what I learned from thatbattle, like I played an amazing
player, as you do at worlds.
Everyone's amazing.
I just took as much as I couldof learning out of it.
(40:58):
And I feel like the experienceof being at something, you know,
with such a high standard.
Was okay anything I do from nowon I won't be as intimidated
because nothing really comparesto that to knowing that it
doesn't matter Who you drawyou're going to get someone
really good.
So think that's going to help myconfidence moving forward and
really Help me back Locally tofeel a bit more like I must I
(41:21):
must know what I'm doing, youknow, hopefully right?
David Hernandez (41:24):
Yes.
Yeah.
Of course you do.
You just went to worlds.
RocketClare (41:28):
Yeah, no, definitely.
I think my gameplay reallyimproved since then.
Um, there was some key thingsthat I learned, but also I
really enjoy the changes thathave been made to PvP in this
new season.
there's a shortened switchtimer, which, my gameplay, my
style, Has always tended to be,and I've heard this from
numerous coaches and people thathave tried to help me, I have a
(41:50):
fairly chaotic playstyle.
I definitely take and I like tobe able to switch in and out and
maximize how much energy I'vegot on each Pokémon and not
necessarily just play things outstraight or, um, Yeah, I find it
boring.
I like, I like dynamic play andI like to, to switch it up and
so on.
So that change to the game hasreally made it more enjoyable
(42:11):
for me.
And when I'm enjoying myself, Iplay my best.
So that's been a fantasticthing.
So definitely excited for thefuture, future tournaments and,
to see what other changes mighthappen in the game and how
things go from here.
David Hernandez (42:25):
Well, rocket Clare, that is the interview.
I want to finish off on thislast question.
What is your favorite Pokemon?
RocketClare (42:33):
Oh, that's really hard.
Well actually, it's not.
I've got lots of favorites.
I've got lots that I've lovedand thought were just so cute
the start.
my absolute favorite Pokemonthough is Altaria.
David Hernandez (42:43):
Oh, why Altaria?
RocketClare (42:44):
Altaria is beautiful, just I look at the
wings and just feel like I couldbe flying on those clouds on a
sunny day.
It just, it just, I don't know,it's just so beautiful and very
strong.
So Altaria was an MVP for me inboth the placings that I got at
Melbourne and Perth Regionals aswell, which is very, very, um,
beautiful.
fitting.
Altaria is still pretty goodactually.
(43:05):
I've seen a few Altaria's in GBOrecently.
So, you know, it might be on thecomeback, but unfortunately it
keeps getting nerfed.
but as a Pokémon, justabsolutely beautiful.
David Hernandez (43:14):
Well, think of it this way, they keep nerfing
it because it's just too strong,you know, like let it out of its
cage.
So that's why they're told itbecause yeah, that's it.
RocketClare (43:21):
That's right.
Altaria will prevail.
David Hernandez (43:25):
I will say this.
So my first memory of Altariawas actually, back when Hoenn,
uh, Ruby Sapphire Emerald, Ifaced it off against a gym
leader and it was always thetoughest Pokemon to beat because
it knew Earthquake and it knew,uh, Dragon Dance, which would
speed up the attack and speed.
And I always got killed by it.
I know it'll always be my wallfor me playing the Hoenn game.
RocketClare (43:44):
Oh, amazing.
Amazing.
Fancy it knowing earthquake.
There you go.
I've learned something today.
David Hernandez (43:49):
Yeah.
Maybe someday, well, I don'tknow if I'll do any good at PVP,
but maybe someday I'll come toPokemon go.
RocketClare (43:54):
fantastic.
Oh, I look forward to that.
David Hernandez (43:56):
Well, Clare, thank you for coming on the
podcast before you go.
People want to connect with you.
If they want to maybe join girlsat PVP, where can they go?
By all means, please plug away.
RocketClare (44:04):
Yeah, for sure.
I'm on X as Rocket Clare.
Uh, very, very simple.
Clare without an I.
C L A R E.
Uh, I've also joined Blue Skyunder the same handle.
And feel free to contact me anyof, you women out there that
like the sound of, The girls atPVP is a supportive space, uh,
make contact and we'll hook youup.
David Hernandez (44:24):
Thank you for listening to As the Pokeball
Turns.
Follow all my socials and joinour Discord community to stay
connected by clicking any of thelinks in the description of this
episode.
Tune in next time for moreepisodes featuring more people,
more stories, and more Pokemon.
Until next time.
I am Rocket Clare and this is my Pokémon story.
David Hernandez (00:42):
Welcome to As the Pokeball Turns, where we
interview people about theirexperience with Pokemon.
My name is David Hernandez, andtoday, I'm joined by a wonderful
leader within the Pokemon Gocommunity, Rocket Clare.
Clare, welcome to the podcast.
RocketClare (00:58):
Oh, thank you so much for having me, David.
David Hernandez (01:00):
absolutely.
I was happy that you decided tocome on the show.
I look forward to kind of divinginto your experience with
Pokemon Go, which doesn't startwith the main series.
It actually just starts withPokemon Go.
you did a recent, world's trip.
You also are very involvedwithin the PVP community with
girls at PVP.
And I want to highlight all thatstuff.
And I'm excited to kind of hearthat kind of all unfold.
RocketClare (01:19):
Oh yeah, look, I'm really excited to be able to
talk about it.
This is one of my favouritetopics and, I don't think there
can be enough discussion,particularly about, how we
promote women and the thingsthat they're doing in PVP, and
just all the fun stuff, all thethings that make it such a great
game to play.
David Hernandez (01:36):
But let's start with the origin story.
Let's start with the beginning.
Like what's the chapter one,where does this journey start
off?
RocketClare (01:43):
So, back in 2016 when the game launched, I think
It had been out for about aweek.
I think I started about a weeklate.
I'd heard a bit in the newsabout this game called Pokemon
Go.
I had very young children at thetime and I thought, I think that
would be something that my kidswould really enjoy playing.
So I have three daughters.
they're now 17, 15 and butobviously back then they were
(02:04):
more of an age where I thoughtthis could be something fun to
do outside with them, which,When you've got three kids it's
always a challenge to try andthink of something that gets
them out and about and that theyenjoy doing.
So, uh, I downloaded the game.
And I took a little while tofigure out what was going on
because I, like you said,haven't played the main games.
And when I started playingPokemon Go, I didn't really get
(02:26):
the concept of even trying tocatch them in the ball.
I do remember, uh, the firstPokemon I tried to catch trying
to work out how you even threwthe ball.
Which is pretty embarrassing.
I don't think I've ever admittedthat to anybody.
But, uh, it was just, um, awhole new, a whole new
experience to me.
it went from there.
I sort of, I'm lucky in that Ilive Right near a park that has
a lot of Pokestop and I couldsee, you know, when the game
(02:49):
first started, it was justcrazy, right?
So people were out playing until3am in the morning.
I could see from my house,lawyers going all night, at
these Pokestops.
And, I'm sure that wasn't justin Australia.
I'm sure that was, worldwide.
There was, there was newsstories about, you know, people
chasing Snorlax spawns and.
all sorts of fun and excitingstuff.
It was just such a novelty andvery, very, addictive when you
(03:12):
see everyone else doingsomething and having so much fun
with it and then you're havingfun with it, it kind of builds
momentum, I think.
David Hernandez (03:17):
So you started because you had your daughters.
You were trying to find a way toget them out.
And kind of, I guess, do afamily kind of event.
Did your daughters also gethooked into the game when y'all
were starting?
Like, were y'all going, like, onfamily outings to the park that,
uh, where you stayed at andstuff like that?
RocketClare (03:30):
I have to be completely honest.
I think for me, I started doingit and I thought I'd play first
so that I could teach them whatto do.
And then I just got completelyhooked and definitely did, I
definitely started accounts forthem.
But, I don't know, they justweren't as interested as me.
They'd be a little bitinterested, but then they'd get
bored really quickly and go andwant to play.
Or whatever, which is also fine.
(03:51):
because, I was enjoying beingout while they were playing,
like I had something to do aswell and it was in the park.
So, yeah, it kind of workedreally well for me that first,
first year or so and definitelystarted to meet a lot of
players.
It was kind of weird to startoff with.
we didn't have established, wellcertainly here where I'm from,
which is, you know, I shouldprobably say a small country
town in Tasmania, which is thesmallest, or sort of the lowest
(04:14):
population area of Australia,the southernmost point.
so a bit remote, and it took awhile to get any sort of chats
established or discords oranything like that.
So initially everyone was justplaying, um, independently, um,
I think there were a couple ofFacebook groups start up, but
when the game started it wassuch an individual game as well.
Everyone was sort of battlinggyms and trying to kick each
(04:35):
other out of gyms, and it wasvery much about, I think there
were brag posts in the, in theFacebook chat, but it was more
about, Look at this fantasticPokemon I caught, or look how
much, my CP is now, and, youknow, trying to impress people,
or, or intimidate people, or, orall of that sort of thing.
It was very much, valor versusmystic versus instinct, and, and
all of that sort of thing, andnot so much collaboration or
(04:56):
working together.
So, I've definitely seen a hugeevolution of the game.
as a lot of people who've playedsince the beginning have.
and yeah, my kids kind of lostinterest pretty early on and I
started to want to meet and playwith other players and started
to just chat to people if I sawthem out and thought that they
(05:18):
looked like they were playingPokemon Go and catching Pokemon,
which you can kind of tell.
I would start a, strike up aconversation.
So Got to know a few people, andparticularly I'm in Team Mystic,
so we, in my area, yeah, in myarea, we, uh, we were a bit
outnumbered by Valor and,definitely had a lot of issues
holding gyms, so that became abit of a, I'm pretty
(05:39):
competitive, so that became abit of a, a focus for me
initially, trying to get theMystic players to band together
and hold some gyms and get thecoins that you could get at the
time much more readily from gymsif you managed to hold them.
So, that was more my focus then.
I think one of the most excitingand, and one of the things about
this game that has endured forme and has been the most
wonderful part of it has been, Iinitially in that first year met
(06:04):
so many people locally who I'dnever met before, even though
it's only a population of 15,000 people in my town and I'd
sort of grown up nearby andlived here most of my life.
there were just so many people.
Probably more of a youngergeneration than me because they
were people who played the maingames and naturally sort of just
progressed to Pokemon Go.
but I don't know just alldifferent walks of life.
(06:24):
There was a lot of familiesplaying as well but they were
just people I hadn't come acrossor met before and probably
wouldn't have if it hadn't beenfor the game.
And I've made some reallywonderful friends through that.
People who I now, you know,would happily go and have a
coffee with, or, you know, we'vedone stuff to help each other
out, you know, with our kids,or, or whatever else.
Community days have becomereally wonderful for us.
(06:44):
It's an opportunity for us tobook out, you know, the local
barbecue shelter, and, make it areal celebration, and, and all
chat about what we're catching,and chat to each other's kids as
well, and, walk around togetherand have a really fun time.
So that community side of it forme.
was an added bonus that Iprobably didn't appreciate as
much to start off with because Iwas so focused on playing the
game.
But, as time wore on and Istarted to realize that I've met
(07:06):
all these wonderful people, Ireally started to appreciate
that a lot.
So, yeah, that was sort of whatreally got me in at the start.
David Hernandez (07:13):
It sounds like even early on, you know, before
you even get to the PVP side ofthings, that you really valued
connection.
And I imagine, you know, youhave, you said you had three
girls, you know, your hands areprobably full, plus I'm assuming
you probably work and stuff likethat, whatever commitments that
come with, you know, being amother.
So it seems like that you valuejust being able to go out,
trying to rally the mysticpeople together, and you found a
way to connect with peoplethrough Pokemon, both older,
(07:35):
younger, through all differentages and stages of life.
RocketClare (07:37):
absolutely.
And anyone who knows me knowsthat I am a connector.
Like, I value my personal timeand my private quiet time, but I
also really enjoy socialconnections with people.
And I have to say as well, thegame started at a time that was
significant for me because myyoungest daughter was at home.
She was only one and I'd beenthrough a particularly difficult
(07:57):
period.
I'd lost my mother, whensomething like that happens,
it's, it's terrible enough.
But I also had a baby and I wassort of stuck at home, not
working at the time.
I had had a break from work.
So, um, I can't tell you howisolating that can feel,
particularly if you are someonewho really enjoys making
connections and interacting withpeople.
So, I really feel like my storywas one of it was definitely
right time, right place.
(08:19):
I could get out with the pram.
I could have the phone runningon Pokemon Go.
It's so important to be able tofeel like you're not trapped and
not, sort of, you can't leavethe house.
So to be able to get out, walkaround, get that very important
exercise, which is so good tolift your spirits, get some
sunshine, fresh air, all ofthose things.
I really do believe that waslife changing for me and it came
(08:39):
at a really good time.
Particularly as, when you talkabout connections and meeting
new people, I'd sort of lost alot of connections that I had
before.
through my workplace at thetime, and I was feeling, like I
said, you know, pretty isolated.
So, yeah, meeting new people atthat time was great.
David Hernandez (08:53):
You know, it makes a huge difference,
especially when you go throughthat kind of trauma, because for
me, I lost my dad that sameyear.
I lost him early 2016.
And you know, I was young on theyoungest side.
I was like 25, 26, and nobodyelse around me had ever, at
least my friend wise, had lost aparent before.
So it
RocketClare (09:10):
I reckon.
David Hernandez (09:10):
isolating in that fact because it was like.
I mean, it's hard for me to kindof connect with people who
something you've neverexperienced before.
That's not what just lost, butthat's, it's anything.
And, you know, I felt like I waskind of very on my own to a way.
And, you know, I was trying to,you know, wrap up with the
effect of not having your parentat that age.
And then, you know, Pokemon gocomes out and.
At the time I was still mourningwhat is, you know, in a way, but
(09:33):
it helped me kind of get out tokind of connect with old
friends, new friends, becauseeverybody was playing Pokemon,
right?
And like you, it allowed me tokind of step out and just
connect with the franchise thatI've grown up with.
So I'm more of a Pokemon fromgen one guy, but it allowed me
to kind of reconnect with thefranchise that, you know, I've
loved really for a long time.
RocketClare (09:50):
I just love hearing that you were so young as well,
and I'm so glad for you that itwas there at that time.
Again, another story of thetiming couldn't have been more
perfect.
David Hernandez (09:59):
Well, I never even thought about that.
I'm like, wait, I lost my dadthat same year.
That makes actually a lot ofsense that she says that.
I've never connected beforeuntil you came on the podcast.
So it was great.
RocketClare (10:09):
I, I had a friend that I made through, through the
game as well who suffered from,chronic anxiety and she had told
me that she was at a point whereShe just couldn't bear to be
around anyone.
She'd had some really badexperiences in her life, and she
would just stay home and notwant to leave the house.
And again, it got her out of thehouse.
But not only that, like, she wasTeam Mystic.
(10:31):
So I was onto her.
And I managed to tap intosomething in her that was super
competitive.
So despite the fact that she wastoo shy to even speak to me, But
we would be in the chat and I'dbe like, Come on, come on, we've
got to get out there and getthese gyms back.
And it kind of egged her onbecause she, she was quite a
competitive person inside well.
And it, She said to me so manytimes over the following years
how much it changed her life.
So, over the next two years, sheactually managed to get out of a
(10:54):
bad relationship, go back toschool, and do some pre course
subjects that meant she couldthen, Do a course in um, uh, it
was caring for people withdisabilities.
And she's now working in thatfield.
And she had been at a pointwhere since she'd left school,
she'd left school early becauseof the issues she'd had at home.
And she hadn't been working thatwhole time.
(11:14):
So, I truly believe, and she,she believes that the, the game
was the starting point, for herto be able to make some of those
connections, to feel confident.
myself and a couple of otherfriends were able be referees
for her when she was looking forwork.
Like, it was just a massiveturnaround for her and just such
a good news story.
So, I'm sure there's manystories like this about the
game.
I believe there would be.
David Hernandez (11:35):
Eventually you know, the game progresses.
Were you able to stick with thegame throughout, or did you take
any breaks before the PVP side?
RocketClare (11:40):
I am such a, I never give up.
Like, there were times when itfrustrated me so much,
particularly early days, whenthere were so many glitches for
the first, I think it was prettybad first, I know it was
terrible the first few monthsand there were so many issues,
but I think that went on forquite some time, didn't it?
I can't actually recall it'sgoing back so far, but I just, I
just stuck with it anyway.
Like, I'm very kind of focused,I think I hyper focused on which
(12:03):
says a lot about me, but, uh, itwas just one of those where.
I don't know, it was my escape,and, you When I went back to
work after having Kira, I coulddo my work and I could do my
stuff around the house.
I could do my stuff with thekids, but this was for me.
And think as a working mum, alot would relate.
you need some stuff foryourself.
And I'd played competitive sportas well, All my life and the
(12:24):
last one that I was stillsticking with was hockey.
but that's very hard on yourbody.
And I think I had my last seasonof hockey.
Well, I think it was my lastseason a couple of years ago.
I may still go back I don'tknow, play masters or something.
But at this stage I'm having arest from that cause it's just
so hard on the body.
but I've I still need thatoutlet and I need something
that's for me.
And I need something that I cancompete in and feel like I'm
(12:44):
achieving something.
That's just, I know that's who Iam.
So, what a great way to be ableto.
Continue to do that withoutneeding a wheelchair the next
day to be able to play it onyour phone.
It's still good.
David Hernandez (12:55):
hockey's violent sport.
Yeah.
RocketClare (12:58):
Well, I'm talking field hockey, not ice hockey.
I should probably clarify.
David Hernandez (13:02):
I mean, that's even worse.
RocketClare (13:04):
Ice hockey.
What I've seen looks prettycrazy.
I don't think I could managethat.
I think that would be so, like,it's hard enough without having
to do it on ice skates.
David Hernandez (13:13):
I don't know, I feel like field hockey has more
of a no rules bar, almost,basically.
At least we got some referees.
RocketClare (13:18):
yeah.
Oh, I kind of like that.
I didn't
David Hernandez (13:20):
That's
RocketClare (13:24):
you've got be uh, keep, keep your, uh, speed up.
And, if you can sort of musclesomeone off, that's better than
skills sometimes.
I've had my share bruises andblack eyes out of it.
But, yeah, you do get to an agewhere you're like, Oh, yeah, I
don't think I can go to work ablack eye on Monday morning.
That wouldn't Ha,
David Hernandez (13:42):
right?
It's like, what, are you okay athome?
Like, yeah.
RocketClare (13:46):
Yeah, that's true, actually.
I never thought of that.
David Hernandez (13:49):
but you know, diving into the competitive side
with you getting the PVP, itseems like it's like a natural
fit your competitor and youknow, PVPs, you know,
competitions, one against one,you got into it because from my
understanding, your community isvery active, right?
RocketClare (14:00):
That's right.
Yeah.
Oh, I was super lucky in thissense.
There's a couple of guys inparticular that kept saying,
probably six months before PvPcame out, because it was teased
for a long time, and they keptsaying, we can't wait for PvP.
And I'd be like, what's thisPvP?
What are they even talkingabout?
I've never done anything likethat.
I didn't realise that that wassuch a key part of the Pokémon
games.
(14:20):
I just really learnt, you know,what I needed to know about,
about raiding, and that sort ofthing.
And actually, I should say,raiding really changed the game
as well, because we went from acommunity that was divided
amongst the three teams, to acommunity that, if we were going
to be able to beat any of theraids, because in early days
they were so tough.
We had to band together and wehad to start joining our chats
together.
So you didn't just have a Mysticchat and a Valor chat or an
(14:43):
Instinct chat.
Like everyone was in the samechat and helping each other and
getting to know each other.
And that was a big part.
That was a huge turning point.
I'm actually so glad that thegame changed like that because
it changed from sort of dividingthe community to us all working
together.
And, you know, we became areally close knit group here in
Ulverston.
and then, yeah, further to that,Two of the local guys loved PvP
and, you know, as soon as itbecame apparent that that was
(15:04):
going to be something that wecould do and we could battle
each other, they were saying,come on, Clare, let's battle.
And I would like, oh, know whatto do.
I'm pretty sure I just did autorec the first few times they
sent me invites because know.
Anything about what Pokemon tochoose or what my best Pokemon
were.
I'm sure they, it would behilarious see, if I could see a
video of that now.
I do have some really old battlevideos actually, but maybe not
(15:25):
from quite that far back.
Um, but yeah, and then somethingin me would be like, I get
beaten all the time, but I hatethat.
I hate losing.
And I just think, well, I've gotto try and figure out how I can,
you know, win.
how win and would continue topractice because I'm very
determined.
And like I said, I've got anever give up attitude.
So we would just send each otherbattle invites because this is
(15:48):
before there was even grassrootstournaments or anything.
So it was just send someone aninvite.
and play them.
Um, but, oh
David Hernandez (15:57):
even before like there was tips or those
even before metas.
people were really trying tofigure out what was good at PvP.
So you didn't have any, youreally just went with kind of
rumors of the playground in away, right?
RocketClare (16:08):
yeah, absolutely.
I had no idea.
People who'd played the maingames definitely had more idea.
but it was still, I mean themechanics were all pretty
unknown and IVs were unknownstill at that stage I believe.
I think IVs but didn't reallyknow how that translated into
gameplay or, Or advantages ordisadvantages.
(16:29):
So yeah, fun times.
I haven't thought about thatwhile, but, the next thing that
happened was, Silph did thatwonderful thing they did, which
was to start up, um, Silphtournaments and measures, which.
the beginning of making itreally fun for me and for a lot
of people, I think, because itmeant that our local community
could hold our own tournamentsin person and everyone could
(16:51):
join, you know, kids joined,whole families, we'd get a
really good turnout and I've gotto say, the guy that, was our
first, I guess, tournamentorganiser.
Did an amazing job, like heprovided prizes.
He provided prizes not just forthe people who won but, also for
the people with the most uniqueteam or the most spicy team.
Which kind of encouraged the funof it because it meant that even
(17:13):
if someone thought, well I don'tthink I'm going to be able to do
any good, they'd still joinbecause they could maybe win the
spicy team prize.
So that, I think, really fun andhelped to make sure everyone
just It didn't become too muchlike ship stations and people
would still participate, whichgood.
And, I think I did okay in myfirst couple of tournaments, but
not great.
(17:34):
Like, obviously, had a lot tolearn, and the more experienced
players would take those out.
I did start listening to, aroundthen, when there were actual
metas and themes for the cups,people started making, content
that you could watch to learnabout what to use and some of
the first videos that I watchedto try and understand what was
(17:55):
going on and what I should betrying to use and what was good
against what was Purple Kyogreactually.
Um, yeah, so I watched a heapvideos.
so shout out to him.
He's a great guy.
I've actually managed to meethim America when I was over
there.
So that great.
and just watched a few others,but I think back then the people
that were making content perhapsweren't so much the ones that
(18:17):
are now.
So, I think there were a fewthings available online that I
started to study, and I'd makeall these notes.
I'd make, I'd have a notebookand I'd write all this stuff
down, which probably reallydifficult to remember, but
that's kind of how I learned so.
Yeah, just started out like thatand would turn up and
eventually, join some discordswhere I was practice other
people more and prepare betterfor the tournaments and that
(18:38):
made a huge difference.
David Hernandez (18:40):
When you reflect on those early days of
PvP, what was the biggestchallenge for you with somebody
who didn't have experience withPokemon to kind of learn the
meta and learn the games?
Like, what were you, what do youremember like finding it most
difficult?
RocketClare (18:52):
I definitely feel like, I remember going through
the same learning curve that Isee everyone go through now when
they're beginning, and that isthings like just using all your
shields up too early, notknowing how much of a move your
Pokémon can tank, and so youshield things that you shouldn't
and waste them.
or even just things like notunderstanding.
typings, because that is not asclear cut, like, some of them
(19:14):
are logical and some are notreally that logical, and,
David Hernandez (19:17):
Right.
RocketClare (19:18):
and resistances, I still struggle with those
sometimes, don't tell anybody,but, but I sometimes I say, oh,
I think this resists, but itdoesn't, so I, you know, I
still, I studied those charts alot as well back then, because
it's not as clear cut as youwould, as you would think.
Which is what makes itbrilliant, to be honest.
If it was really obvious, Idon't think it'd be as fun and
(19:39):
as intriguing.
Like, one of the best partsabout it is that sometimes it's
really intricate to understandall the, all the ways that
things work and the ways thatPokemon can resist or typings
can resist or work, work againsteach other or work together.
So that took a lot, I think,from memory.
It was probably one of the mainthings.
David Hernandez (19:57):
and you know, for me, like I said, going back,
you know, I grew up with thefranchise, so I've had the
chance to kind of progress withthe typing's, yes, they've been
the change, but what changes isthe mixtures, for example,
water, ground.
Electro community and but fourtimes we took grass when you get
into more complex typings likethe grass water or if you get
into like psychic ground likestuff all the you know as much
(20:18):
as i love to see the types usedit also makes it more learning
curve and more daunting becausenow you're coming straight from
pokemon go you were having tolearn 15 years of types and
combinations and the pokemon ontop of that that's that's
daunting for anybody i wouldn'teven know how to address that
you know
RocketClare (20:35):
Oh, and your mind has to work so quickly as soon
as you see that symbol as itcomes in.
You've got think so fast.
what you need to do next.
Am I going to switch out?
I'm going to throw a move?
Am I going to farm?
And yeah, some of them are soconfusing.
I can't tell you how hard Ifound things like, like it's
easy now because it's been in somuch use, but things like
Gligar.
What is that?
(20:56):
Ground flying?
Like what?
Makes no sense.
What I use against that?
Like, oh, you think you know,you just think, start to get to
a point where you think youknow, you know, what the best
thing is to use.
And then you come across aPokemon go, oh, That one's a
really weird combination.
David Hernandez (21:47):
Now, eventually you got involved with girls at
PVP.
When did that kind of happenwithin your Pokemon Go journey?
RocketClare (21:53):
Yeah, so that happened actually, yeah, not
like that long after the Silphtournament started.
I was enjoying the Silphtournaments, enjoying my local
community.
I joined because with Silph, todo well on the, um, on the
rankings, the more tournaments,You did the better to an extent,
and I was already doing thelocal ones, which was fine, but
wanted access to moretournaments.
So I joined, actually ourAustralian discord, Arena
(22:15):
Australia, shout out to thoseguys.
So it was fantastic that thatwas started up initially.
So the Australian battlers allgot an opportunity to have,
Silph tournaments within ourlobbies.
and then from there, one of theguys in there was talking, He
was in my lobby and he wastalking about his girlfriend and
that she plays and that shejoined girls PVP and I was like,
what's this girls at PVP?
It sounds fantastic.
Cause I had really noticed thatI was one of the few women that
(22:37):
were playing locally.
There were, there were a few ofus, but I could definitely see
the disparity already at thatstage.
And definitely once I joineddiscord tournaments, um, it was
definitely probably only about20 percent women, which is still
a lot higher than sometournaments that you see.
But, I'd noticed the difference.
And look, it wasn't too dauntingfor me because I work in a very
male dominated industry in my,day to day work.
(22:58):
So I wasn't daunted orintimidated by it, but I did
sort of wonder about it andwonder where all the women were.
I wasn't really sure why thereweren't more women around
playing, um, and why it wasmostly guys.
So I still don't, still notreally sure.
We, we know, the full answer tothat but we might get to it.
so I somehow managed to get alink, because it's obviously
only by invitation to join theserver.
(23:19):
So back then actually it washosted on the JFARM server, and
you had to be verified that youwere female to join and that all
happened and it was still fairlysmall then and it was really
mainly a channel, for women todiscuss their experiences to do
with battling and to encourageeach other and give each other
advice and I found it absolutelyamazing as soon as I joined.
(23:40):
Like, There were so many reallycool women in there from all
over the world and from allwalks of life.
And I still remember some inparticular who have probably
long stopped playing because Ihaven't heard from them for
ages, but some of them were justso fantastic.
They, their knowledge wasamazing.
They were really, really greatbattlers and really impressive
and had achieved some fantasticstuff.
(24:01):
And I will always be drawn topeople like that who share their
knowledge and who help others.
And I know, I remember postingquestions about stuff that now I
look back that was a really,such a basic noob question, but
everyone just had patience.
Like, I think that was one ofthe premises of having a space
like that was, you won't beridiculed, you know, you will be
(24:23):
welcomed and encouraged andthere's no need to feel
intimidated or shy because weare going to help you be the
best can be.
And that was definitely the vibeand the feel that I got and I
really felt like I'd found ahome.
David Hernandez (24:37):
It makes a huge difference, right?
Because there are a lot of,people.
who we think, Oh, you shouldalready know this.
Like, how do you not know, youknow, grass beats with fire.
I'm sorry.
Fire beats grass or, you know,whatever have you, like we all,
uh, there's people who thinkthat.
they, everybody thinks like themand they're not, fact, add the
fact that plus, you know, ifyou're a, woman in a male space,
generally y'all are going to bethe minority, you know, that's
(24:58):
the reality, right?
And, but that, but like yousaid, it makes it safe space to
have that server to go to, tokind of be willing to ask the
quote unquote stupid question.
Although it really isn't astupid question.
You're just trying to learnwithout having to face ridicule.
RocketClare (25:10):
a hundred percent and ridicule is a big thing and
I'll probably touch on this now.
It is really difficult, even forme.
today to be on stream or tostream your battles and I can
guarantee you that if it is awoman battling she will cop so
much more flak than a guy andpeople probably won't like me
saying that or probably arguewith me but I don't mind putting
it out there because I'vewitnessed this, I've experienced
(25:30):
it.
You can be on stream and you canplay just as well as the guy
that played before you or justas badly but you will cop
criticism for every decision youmake, even if you actually are
doing something, becausesometimes it's not always
apparent when you're battling,you might do something that
someone else is watching andthinks, Oh, I'll never do that.
She's going to lose now.
and it's interesting becauseSometimes you actually do have a
(25:52):
reason to do it, and maybeyou've timed it wrong, or you
haven't done it right, but youdon't have the benefit of seeing
where, you know, what they'vegot in back, or, or anything,
but people don't give you thatgrace at all, because they're
watching the stream, they cansee what moves, you know, your
opponent has in the back, so theridicule aspect is something
that I've found really difficultto adjust to, in the game and
probably one of the negativesthat I wish we could get past
(26:13):
because it can actually be quiteunpleasant to watch a stream and
to have people being, you know,treated like that when honestly
they really are doing the bestthey can and a lot of people who
are commenting wouldn't evenhave got to that position of
being on stream.
So,
David Hernandez (26:25):
Now, how important has the PVP server
been within, you know, your PVPjourney and your Pokemon
journey?
RocketClare (26:31):
I would say, especially in the early days,
incredibly important.
I felt a great deal ofsolidarity.
I've been fairly fortunate inthe circles that I move in that,
I have not felt too intimidated.
There have been times when Ihave felt some of the locals
perhaps.
probably more broadly, just inthe community itself, I feel
like the movement itself playssuch an important role at
(26:52):
holding people accountable.
So, early days, there were someissues online and so on, people
saying things about womenbattlers and so on, and they
definitely got challenged veryearly on, and I, I really see
that now.
And I think that's a credit toall of the pioneers of that
movement that, would speak upfor women and make sure that we
had our say and that we weren't,treated poorly or, or ridiculed
(27:15):
or, or left out.
so I, I definitely think now Isee barely any of that and it
just is accepted that girls atPVP are here to stay and that
we're growing and that we'regoing to continue to encourage
and try and, and build thecommunity of women amongst the
community.
David Hernandez (27:30):
Now, you know, Clare, you started with just
somebody who had very littleexperience and you didn't know
how to use shields to somebodywho gets on the road to worlds
here in 2024, you know, it'ssuch a huge evolution.
Right?
Talk to us.
Like, what is it like to kind ofget to worlds?
Like the journey to get therestarting, you know, in Perth and
trying to earn your spot there.
RocketClare (27:50):
Yeah.
It's so interesting because Icompeted in Play Pokémon events
really.
In Australia, unfortunately, wedon't have many anyway.
we only have maximum of threeyear.
And when it was announced thatPlay Pokémon would start holding
these live regional events, Itwas exciting.
However, it was alsointimidating for me because it
(28:11):
was very much touted as you willhave to qualify to compete in
the regional.
So I don't know if you remember,but when it was first announced,
it was kind of, you know, youmust be a legend battler and you
must you must that.
And people had to apply.
And I thought, I took it yeah, Iit as, to even compete in a
regional, it wouldn't just opento everyone.
And I definitely that stage hadvery much of a, Even though I'd
(28:34):
done quite well in grassrootstournaments.
I still very much felt I hadimposter syndrome.
I didn't think that I was thatperson.
I knew there were many, manygreat battlers in Australia who
I look up to and who I still,you know, learn from and
fantastic and I love to see themdo well.
didn't really put myself in thatcategory at all.
mostly because we've beenthrough COVID and you know it
(28:56):
was funny the first Australianregional was in St Kilda,
Melbourne of years ago and itwas the first time I'd met most
face to face because we justbattled each other online we'd
become friends online and gotalong great but you know to
actually meet them face to facewas so exciting and that was one
of the main reasons I wanted togo to Melbourne.
it's a one hour flight from hereand obviously have to get
accommodation on because so it'snot it's not simple it's not
(29:17):
cheap I really enjoyed justmeeting everyone and seeing
everyone was super excited justabout that.
So that's kind of what drove meto start and I think I came, top
16 in Melbourne.
I'm not 100 percent sure, So,That was nice.
I got some card packs, I think,and, and, you know, enjoyed
myself a lot.
But then that was it.
You know, I just, I just playedthat and I was really impressed.
(29:40):
I loved being able to the otherbattlers play and I loved the
four guys that qualified fromAustralia who went to Worlds
that year.
It was in London.
I was super excited to watchthem play and support them and,
that was about it.
the following year we actuallyhad the first and only ever
OCIC, in Australia, inMelbourne.
And Melbourne being the closest,regional for me anyway, that was
(30:00):
perfect.
So going to that was superexciting because we had Actual
casters who you only ever see onTV, haha, attend.
Um, we had King come and be ajudge, which was awesome.
Um, and Cindy came and competedand we had, Caleb and Speedy
and, Butters, all come over andcast, which was just so cool.
(30:20):
And just walking into the hall,when we had that regional was
Just mind blowing just all ofthe setup for the stream and the
way everything was decorated Itwas just so cool compared to
what I'd already experienced andI really just felt so much
excitement to be participating,and you know, I prepared
reasonably well for that.
I kind of got the hang ofpreparing for tournaments
because most of the tournamentsI've done grassroots were show 6
(30:43):
3 anyway.
So that ended up being a greatgrounding, I think, for play
Pokemon.
I was fortunate in that sense.
And I'd prepared reasonably welland I up coming, I think, equal
ninth, you know, CIC, I washappy with, and again, you know,
won some cards, which great,which I've still got.
I haven't opened them yet.
That's a bit of a
David Hernandez (31:01):
Oh, that's cool.
Yeah.
RocketClare (31:02):
all the cards that I've won.
I haven't sold or opened any ofthem.
They're all sitting there, so.
One day I'm either going to havea heap of fun opening or, or
something, but
David Hernandez (31:10):
that'd hard.
yeah.
would not want to open them.
That'd be difficult.
RocketClare (31:14):
I'm a bit of a hoarder, so yeah, sitting there,
sitting there as prizes still.
But it was encouraging because Ifelt like I was improving and
getting better results eachtime, and then after that was
the year that, I did quite well.
So I first of all did theMelbourne tournament where I
came third, which was shockingbecause, well, I'd prepared well
and I had a team I was andconfident because you just never
(31:36):
know what's going to happen atthese tournaments, but I was
happy enough that I'd preparedand I was playing well, so that
was great.
I literally just kept taking itone battle at a time, played
some awesome players, anddefinitely overcame a few,
demons for myself as far as,once I got to like the third
round, I was playing, fish on aheater who's quite an
accomplished player.
(31:57):
in the year before and andtraveled to worlds the year
before and I lost the firstbattle against him.
So in a best of three losing thefirst battle is pretty difficult
because you know then yourback's up against the wall you
have to win the other two.
But also for me mentally part ofthe mental game for me had been
As much as I've tried to,previously, if I'd lost the
first, I'd kind of almost, notgive up, but I'd put so much
(32:20):
pressure on myself to win afterthat, because I have to win,
have to win, that it couldsometimes, be counterproductive.
So, I'd done a lot of mentalpreviously in, in grassroots
tournaments to, make sure that Iworked past that.
And, take the benefit out ofthat loss.
At least now you know what monsthey're using.
learned some valuableinformation about, who wins CMP
or whatever else.
(32:40):
And we just write down all thethings that I've learned from
that, so that I go into the nextbattle as prepared as possible.
So, I think for the next threerounds I played, I lost the
first battle.
I think it was FishonaHeaterand, um, and then Anacor.
I, managed to win the second andthird battle and come back just
pure, the mental work that I'ddone.
(33:01):
So that was a huge achievementand I, try really hard to look
at, no matter how I go or, youknow, if I bomb out or I don't
do as well as expected, I thinkabout What are the things that I
worked on and still went well?
Because that's still a winner.
I sometimes you can't wineverything and you just have to
take the learnings and look atwhere you've improved and the
things that you've worked on andhow that's benefited you just so
(33:22):
that you know that you're stillprogressing and moving forward.
So mentally I felt like that ahuge breakthrough.
Um, and then I was, really happyto continue on through that
tournament and make it today to,to the top four and win my first
round of, of day two againstAvrip to progress to top three.
I was defeated by Triple Crit soI actually lost to Triple Crit
(33:42):
twice.
He was the person that knockedme out.
Um, he was the only person Ilost to at Melbourne and good
friend of mine and greatbattler.
still absolutely stoked to betop four and to come third in
So, got quite a few, points,towards Worlds from that, and
prize money which was reallynice.
and some more cards.
I think one of my favoritememories was I don't even know
(34:02):
which round it was, butpotentially, I think, I had a
big break.
So after my first loss to tripleI was sitting at, I think, one,
two, three, four, one, four,one, and there was a huge break,
because then I went to lose thisbreak, and I had to wait for all
of them to catch up.
So I had some lunch, and I cameback in, and Yakovovich, who you
probably know of, he's the, Oneof Australia's best battlers
actually walked up to me andwe're friends.
(34:23):
We've played, you know, on thesame team in, um, a couple of,
like gym breakers and also inbattle frontier.
And he just came up to me and hesaid, do you realize that now,
no matter what happens, you'vewon.
He said, I think you've wonabout, oh, you know, 1, 000
American, which in Australia isabout 1, 500.
And I was just, no way, no, no.
(34:44):
Are you serious?
Like, I hadn't even realised howfar I'd progressed, or that I'd
gotten I could actually winmoney out of this game that I
play.
And to me, I really got quiteemotional, and it wasn't about
the money.
It was about, I can't believethat I actually am good enough
to win some money I'd neverthought of myself in that.
category of battlers, I guess.
And I know Rick Flareon, whoprobably also know of, one of
(35:04):
the great Australian battlers,he was there as well.
And they were both just sort ofgrinning away because I got all
emotional and then like, Rickhad to turn away, you see,
because was so emotional it'smaking him emotional.
It's like, it was just abeautiful moment, I think,
amongst friends and people thatlove this game and have battled
together for a long time.
And, you know, to, to hear itfrom guys who I'd admired for
such a long time in theirprowess in the and to feel like
(35:25):
I was.
that crowd was just amazing.
So that was a huge breakthroughtournament for me.
And really when I started tobelieve that I could this and,
for me, self belief is huge.
And I think that's also a bigpart of helping women to believe
that they can succeed.
I think it's important to seeother women succeeding, to know,
Well, I could do that too.
(35:46):
And I actually really want toshout out to Cindy at this point
too.
The time when Cindy won theVancouver, Play Pokemon
tournament, I was so in awe ofher and so amazed and impressed.
And I actually feel like thatwas when I first started to
believe women can do this.
We're so outnumbered, but we cando it.
So I think that's reallyimportant for be able to role
model, on someone.
(36:07):
And I, I take that reallyseriously.
David Hernandez (36:10):
You know, you touched on so many things.
We're just talking about yourexperience, trying to get to
worlds, you know, one hand youtalk about the mental side in
regards to people don't thinkabout that.
not just like counting moves,not just knowing types.
It's exhausting.
It's a gauntlet trying to getthrough two days of constant
battling.
And then you didn't mention it,but you actually had a buy
before you even faced fish onthe heater.
(36:30):
So you were constantly on edge,you know, with the and they want
to put you on the screen.
So constantly just want to, youknow, ideally, you know, if you
go in there, you want to just goahead and get it over with, like
nerves already on, let's justbattle.
Let me win or lose.
You had a way to buy.
Then you had a way more just toget on the screen before
battling fish.
So.
You had both that going for youtoo.
RocketClare (36:50):
So yes, so that was at the Perth tournament
actually.
My first round was a buy, whichI'd never had before and it was
actually the worst.
I remember, I rememberpreviously I'd seen people have
buys in the first round and Ialways oh lucky bastard, like it
seems you're sort of getting afree ticket into the next round,
which I don't know, everyoneelse is battling and I'm staring
(37:11):
into space getting more and morenervous, and wondering who was
going to win, the pairing Thatperson would then be who I
faced.
And yes, you're right.
Then, after that, Fish and Iwere about to battle and they
said, Oh no guys, please stop,you're on, uh, wait, waiting for
stream just in case.
You're not definitely going tobe streamed, but we need someone
to stand by in case.
So we really got held up withour battle and, you know, get
(37:32):
more and more nervous and it wasso coincidental as well because,
Fish was actually running a teamthat was really fantastic team.
It was, um, it had Shatter forAlligator and, Guzzlord and,
Which was really big at thetime.
plus a couple of others.
And that team in particular wasvery tricky for my team to
handle.
And I knew that because it was anon team that I'd been
(37:53):
practicing against and reallystruggling to beat.
So that was adding to my nervesas well.
So all of that definitely doesadd up.
You're right.
And, when we went into thebattle, um, Fish played
excellently.
And I went down 0 2.
So I lost my first round.
So, once again, the mental gamecomes into it.
You know, am I going toabsolutely bomb out of this
tournament?
Was Melbourne just a fluke?
(38:13):
Should I, should I, should Ireally have flown all the way to
Perth just to try and qualifyfor Worlds?
Like, oh my goodness.
There is so much, that goes intoit and I think something that's
helped me too is talking to moreand more of the top battlers and
realising that I'm not alone.
it's not just me that has thoseself doubts and that a lot of
them do think about, all ofthose things and, It's hard
(38:34):
sometimes, so yeah, you canthink you've got imposter
syndrome because you're a girltrying to do something, or
you've never played the maingames, or whatever, whatever
other, many reasons that I mighthave for having imposter
syndrome, but you're not alone.
It is, a big part of it is themental game on top of all the
game mechanics, understanding,and the counting, and so on, and
I think if you can eliminatethat mental stress, then that's
a big key to it, and I see someof the best battlers on stream
(38:57):
in the big tournaments.
do that, really well.
Like, they just are so relaxed.
And you can see people likeLurgen Rocket or Inadequence.
You can just see their wholedemeanor as they're battling.
Like, they're giving littlesmirks to their opponent or
they're making little kind offun, like, jokes or whatever.
And I think to be able to dothat and still be locked in and
still play as well as they do ispretty incredible.
(39:18):
So that's a big part of it, I'msure.
David Hernandez (39:20):
Now, you said earlier how you didn't really
put yourself into that category.
Somebody who can go around andwin tournaments.
Why didn't you feel like youwere a top battler at the time?
And do you still feel that way?
Even after going to worlds?
RocketClare (39:32):
I just think it's my nature.
I think that I'm really, likeeven playing sport, I've always
been someone who's been happy tobe a member of the team and to
work hard on my fitness and todo as well as I possibly can,
but I never expect to be thestar.
I just want to, I just want toenjoy myself and do my best.
And I don't know if that'sdetrimental to myself.
(39:52):
I think it probably has been inthe past.
But.
There comes a point where Ithink you do well enough that do
start to have some self beliefand that confidence has really
helped me.
the confidence of going Worldsbeen amazing.
Like, I loved Worlds.
It was a fantastic event.
It was so great being aroundeveryone.
One of the things I enjoyed themost was once I was out watching
(40:14):
on stream all the amazingplayers.
I got so much out of it.
I learned so much.
but it was hugely stressfulcompeting.
Like, I But, you know, you're upagainst the absolute best
players.
And I had a pretty good run.
Like, I played the Japanesechampion first round.
And he won the first and then wetied the second battle.
and then he won the third, whichwas really, really close as
(40:36):
well.
So I felt like I, you You know,gave him a good run his money.
And I learned a lot from thatand I won my second round, which
was fantastic.
I, feel I played quite well thatone.
And then, in my third round Idid lose, but again, I think
like what I learned from thatbattle, like I played an amazing
player, as you do at worlds.
Everyone's amazing.
I just took as much as I couldof learning out of it.
(40:58):
And I feel like the experienceof being at something, you know,
with such a high standard.
Was okay anything I do from nowon I won't be as intimidated
because nothing really comparesto that to knowing that it
doesn't matter Who you drawyou're going to get someone
really good.
So think that's going to help myconfidence moving forward and
really Help me back Locally tofeel a bit more like I must I
(41:21):
must know what I'm doing, youknow, hopefully right?
David Hernandez (41:24):
Yes.
Yeah.
Of course you do.
You just went to worlds.
RocketClare (41:28):
Yeah, no, definitely.
I think my gameplay reallyimproved since then.
Um, there was some key thingsthat I learned, but also I
really enjoy the changes thathave been made to PvP in this
new season.
there's a shortened switchtimer, which, my gameplay, my
style, Has always tended to be,and I've heard this from
numerous coaches and people thathave tried to help me, I have a
(41:50):
fairly chaotic playstyle.
I definitely take and I like tobe able to switch in and out and
maximize how much energy I'vegot on each Pokémon and not
necessarily just play things outstraight or, um, Yeah, I find it
boring.
I like, I like dynamic play andI like to, to switch it up and
so on.
So that change to the game hasreally made it more enjoyable
(42:11):
for me.
And when I'm enjoying myself, Iplay my best.
So that's been a fantasticthing.
So definitely excited for thefuture, future tournaments and,
to see what other changes mighthappen in the game and how
things go from here.
David Hernandez (42:25):
Well, rocket Clare, that is the interview.
I want to finish off on thislast question.
What is your favorite Pokemon?
RocketClare (42:33):
Oh, that's really hard.
Well actually, it's not.
I've got lots of favorites.
I've got lots that I've lovedand thought were just so cute
the start.
my absolute favorite Pokemonthough is Altaria.
David Hernandez (42:43):
Oh, why Altaria?
RocketClare (42:44):
Altaria is beautiful, just I look at the
wings and just feel like I couldbe flying on those clouds on a
sunny day.
It just, it just, I don't know,it's just so beautiful and very
strong.
So Altaria was an MVP for me inboth the placings that I got at
Melbourne and Perth Regionals aswell, which is very, very, um,
beautiful.
fitting.
Altaria is still pretty goodactually.
(43:05):
I've seen a few Altaria's in GBOrecently.
So, you know, it might be on thecomeback, but unfortunately it
keeps getting nerfed.
but as a Pokémon, justabsolutely beautiful.
David Hernandez (43:14):
Well, think of it this way, they keep nerfing
it because it's just too strong,you know, like let it out of its
cage.
So that's why they're told itbecause yeah, that's it.
RocketClare (43:21):
That's right.
Altaria will prevail.
David Hernandez (43:25):
I will say this.
So my first memory of Altariawas actually, back when Hoenn,
uh, Ruby Sapphire Emerald, Ifaced it off against a gym
leader and it was always thetoughest Pokemon to beat because
it knew Earthquake and it knew,uh, Dragon Dance, which would
speed up the attack and speed.
And I always got killed by it.
I know it'll always be my wallfor me playing the Hoenn game.
RocketClare (43:44):
Oh, amazing.
Amazing.
Fancy it knowing earthquake.
There you go.
I've learned something today.
David Hernandez (43:49):
Yeah.
Maybe someday, well, I don'tknow if I'll do any good at PVP,
but maybe someday I'll come toPokemon go.
RocketClare (43:54):
fantastic.
Oh, I look forward to that.
David Hernandez (43:56):
Well, Clare, thank you for coming on the
podcast before you go.
People want to connect with you.
If they want to maybe join girlsat PVP, where can they go?
By all means, please plug away.
RocketClare (44:04):
Yeah, for sure.
I'm on X as Rocket Clare.
Uh, very, very simple.
Clare without an I.
C L A R E.
Uh, I've also joined Blue Skyunder the same handle.
And feel free to contact me anyof, you women out there that
like the sound of, The girls atPVP is a supportive space, uh,
make contact and we'll hook youup.
David Hernandez (44:24):
Thank you for listening to As the Pokeball
Turns.
Follow all my socials and joinour Discord community to stay
connected by clicking any of thelinks in the description of this
episode.
Tune in next time for moreepisodes featuring more people,
more stories, and more Pokemon.
Until next time.
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