November 15, 2023 • 29 mins
MikeNerdLaw, a committed Pokémon GO Trainer, has one request for Niantic: "Cowboy Hat Caterpie, please!" In this Pokémon interview, he shares the story of how his journey with Pokémon GO began, tracing his first encounter with Caterpie and the moment he fell in love with the game. Dive into his dedication and the fascinating world of Pokémon GO, where even the smallest details, like a Cowboy Hat Caterpie, become unforgettable moments for passionate fans.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
David Hernandez (00:00):
My name is David Hernandez, and you're
listening to As the PokeballTurns.
(00:44):
Welcome to As the PokeballTurns, where the stories are
real and people still play thisgame.
costume Pokemon are nothing newwithin Pokemon Go.
The very first costume Pokemonwas a Santa hat Pikachu back in
December of 2016.
Over the years, more costumePokemon have been introduced
into Pokemon Go, ranging fromhats, sunglasses, to even armor.
(01:05):
It begs the question.
If you could create your owncostume Pokemon, what would it
be?
would it be an Unown wearing amonocle?
Maybe a Rayquaza with a top hat?
Maybe you need a Pikachu wearingthe jersey of your favorite
sports team.
My guest in this episode is on amission to have one particular
Pokemon wearing a cowboy hatintroduced into Pokemon Go.
(01:26):
On social media, he consistentlycontacts Niantic using only four
words, Cowboy Hat Caterpie,please.
From Viridian Forest, here ishis origin story into the world
of Pokemon Go.
This is Mike Nerdlaw.
Today, I'm joined by the mannedunder the cowboy hat and the
number one Caterpie fan,MIkeNerdLaw! Mike, welcome to
(01:50):
the show.
MikeNerdLaw (01:51):
Hey, hey! Thank you for having me! Hello, everybody!
David Hernandez (01:54):
Definitely Mike, and I'm happy you came on
the show.
I remember we got to meet in NewYork City and you were dressed
up in the Caterpie costume.
One thing I was wondering islike, where did you get that
costume from?
MikeNerdLaw (02:04):
that is actually the third version of the
costume.
I lost one in Seattle and onein, Philly.
They didn't survive the entirefestival.
So yeah, I just ordered them,from Amazon, actually.
from China, they take like sixmonths, but I got them and,
yeah, it's pretty crazy.
I have, another one on the wayto replace the one that, didn't
survive NYC, so it should beready for, festivals come next
(02:27):
year, so.
David Hernandez (02:29):
that was the one that was ripped, right?
Cause it, I think it ripped,like, on the shoulder blade.
MikeNerdLaw (02:33):
Yeah, that one ripped almost immediately,
little duct tape was able to atleast get me through the event.
But, you get what you pay for,so.
David Hernandez (02:41):
Well, that's fair, that's fair.
before we dive into, like, howthis all started with
CowboyHatCaterpie, Cause I'minterested, cause you were one
of the first people I ran intowhen I joined Twitter.
And I'm like, what'sCowboyHatCaterpie?
what was your first experiencewith Pokemon Go?
MikeNerdLaw (02:53):
my first experience with Pokemon Go, Which kind of
ties into how Cowboy HatCaterpie came to be, so, to
preface, I had never played anyof the games growing up, never
watched any of the shows, didn'tknow anything about Pokemon.
until shortly before Pokemon Gocame out, I was at my best
friend's apartment, and sittingon our coffee table was a Game
(03:14):
Boy and had a Pokemon game inthere.
I'd never, you know, neverplayed it before.
We're just sitting therechilling, watching baseball or
something, and I picked it upand...
Oh, okay, Pokemon.
Never played this before.
Whatever.
You know, let's give it a try.
So, fired the game up and I waswalking around with the guy
and...
Ran into something and all of asudden, you know, a wild
Caterpie appears.
Well, I didn't know how topronounce the thing.
(03:35):
So she tells me immediately, no,it's Caterpie.
I'm like, I don't know, it lookslike Caterpie to me.
But anyway, I caught it.
that was my first Pokemon was aCaterpie.
So I've always called themTerpies since then.
just because that's how Ilearned it.
I didn't know any better.
So I did that for a littlewhile, and like a week or two,
literally a week or two later,Pokemon Go came out, and I
(03:56):
didn't really have any desire toplay, but my friend was gonna
play, and I'm like, well, youknow, I'll do anything once.
So, grabbed Pokemon Go andstarted playing it, right on
release day, which, what, July7th of 2016?
I think that's what it was.
And, lo and behold, I've beenplaying it ever since.
so yeah, I had a little, briefexperience with, Pokemon red or
blue, whatever it was, that dayand then Pokemon go from the
(04:18):
beginning.
And then, um, to connect to thecowboy had Caterpie aspect of
things, I grew up on a farm.
So I've always loved farming,always that kind of thing.
That's where the cowboy hat camefrom.
So that part of the story is notcrazy.
It's not nothing special aboutthat.
The crazy part of the story is,at that same friend's apartment,
there's a couple of kids,probably six or seven years old,
(04:38):
maybe eight, they're playingPokemon cards, again, I didn't
play the game.
I don't know anything.
And they're, playing cards atour apartment and I'm walking by
and I asked this kid.
Hey! That's what you guys areplaying Pokemon.
Do you have any Katerpies?
And the kid looked at me like Ihad just like...
You know, insulted his mother orsomething.
He just looks at me, just glaresat me.
It's Caterpie, dummy! This, thiseight year old called me a
(05:01):
dummy.
So like, it was like war at thispoint.
From that point forward, I sworeto catch all the terpies.
And just like, nope, I gottacatch them all, cause I can't
let this kid have, you know, allthese terpies.
And I'd originally, funnyenough, wanted to catch...
One of every CP, Caterpie allthe way from, 10 all the way up.
And I was like 5 or 6 away fromhaving like the entire set, like
(05:22):
every number.
But then they redid the CPcalculations after like 6, 7, 8
months of the game before Icould ever complete that quest.
But yeah, at one point I hadlike a thousand something,
Terpies in my storage.
I still have probably a thousandin my storage, but, the
combination of, Caterpie beingthe first pokemon I ever
experienced as well as that kid.
It just got me always hooked onCaterpie and then the cowboy hat
(05:43):
was just a natural thing.
So that's how Cowboy HatCaterpie was born.
David Hernandez (05:47):
Wow, so it came from you playing your friend's
game, and that was the firstPokemon you experienced, or the
Pokemon you caught on that game,and then the Cowboy Hat Caterpie
is because you grew up on afarm.
MikeNerdLaw (05:56):
Yep.
David Hernandez (05:57):
So when did the, costume and you starting
asking Niantic to have CowboyHat Caterpie come to play?
Was that right away?
Or was that coming later on?
MikeNerdLaw (06:05):
It was not right away.
there was some event with a hator something fairly early on.
It might have been prior toParty Hat Wurmple.
It was probably like a Pikachuhat, something.
Cause, Pikachu has 12, 000different costumes and hats at
this point.
But I just randomly one day onTwitter, so my original, my
Twitter account originally hadnothing to do with Pokemon, and
then just one day I thought itwould be funny to, tweet
(06:27):
CowboyHatCaterpie, please, andthen I just started doing that
over and over and over, and itjust became a thing, so.
And it's been, four years nowsince, the first time I asked
for it.
So, my quest continues!
David Hernandez (06:40):
What is it like for you to think about how many
people have grasped on to, like,the idea of asking for a cowboy
hat Caterpie in game now?
Because when you go to theselive events, a lot of people
come up and say hello to you.
MikeNerdLaw (06:51):
It's cool, like, in real life, I'm like the most
shy, introverted person ever.
Like, I...
Don't talk to people.
I'm just, I'm terrified ofpeople like people are scary.
Like, I don't want to talk toanybody.
For whatever reason, like when Iput on that costume or, even
like at this point, a lot ofpeople know what I look like
outside of the costume now too,from, you know, Twitter and
(07:12):
whatnot, but it's just crazy.
I put on that costume andsuddenly like everybody wants to
see me and talk to me.
It's like, it's almost like myshield.
Like I can just talk to peoplewhile I have the costume on.
It's wild.
I've never been like the mostpopular person ever been like,
you know, I'm not really apeople person.
So to have people want to meetme and like want to see me or
want to meet up with me, it'sjust wild to me.
And I love it.
(07:32):
It's so crazy.
David Hernandez (07:34):
You mentioned how you're usually shy.
the first event you went to incostume, were you still shy at
that point?
Were you still nervous, or were,like, the nerves completely
taken away once you were in thecostume?
MikeNerdLaw (07:43):
my first time in costume, I was nervous, not
because I was so much incostume, but because I was, at
that point, I was streaming fulltime as well, and a lot of my
regulars were gonna be there,and I was just nervous to meet
all my regulars.
I'm like, oh man, what if myregulars hate me?
Like, what if my, Twitch modshate me?
or, whatever.
So I was more nervous for that,turns out.
(08:04):
I have the greatest mods ever.
I have the greatest, regularsever.
So I shouldn't have beennervous, but I was, but that was
just a great introduction to thecostume.
Then the feedback I got from thecostume, made things just, it
was just so great.
I'm like, all right, I justgotta, costume up for every
event.
It's like tradition.
So I love it.
Like I will never go to eventswithout the costume now,
(08:25):
basically.
David Hernandez (08:27):
And I assume you, like, take pictures, and do
you trade Pokemon?
Do people trade you Caterpieswhenever they meet you?
MikeNerdLaw (08:32):
Yep.
I, I, I, I get, I do a lot ofCaterpie trades, a lot of,
trades in general.
the very first go fast I was at,I traded a Caterpie, or sorry, I
traded a Shadowball Mewtwo for aCaterpie from Mexico, because I
didn't have a Mexican Caterpieat that point.
The dude was so confused why Iwould trade a Mewtwo for a
Caterpie.
I'm like, don't ask questions,just give me your Caterpie.
(08:53):
Is basically what it boiled downSo like, and there was actually
like a Niantic representative orsomething right there too, just
like...
Why would you trade it?
Like, don't ask questions like,I only care about Caterpie.
that was pretty wild.
That was the first, like, realthing when I realized that, wait
a minute, like, Caterpie is mything.
number 10 is always number onein my heart, you know?
David Hernandez (09:11):
Well, I mean just to put into context, Shadow
Ball Mewtwo back in 2018 I'mguessing.
That was ridiculously rarebecause we didn't have elite TMs
back in those days.
So you were reliant on gettingthem from elite raids, or EX
raids is what they were called.
MikeNerdLaw (09:25):
The x rays, yeah, yeah.
David Hernandez (09:27):
So is that like one of your goals?
Do you like to try and collectcaterpillars from all over the
world now?
You save a thousand of them,like how do you know which ones
to keep or do you keep them all?
MikeNerdLaw (09:34):
I've honestly scaled back on the, the Caterpie
collection, just because I feellike I've...
Kind of achieved everything Iwant collection wise from the
Caterpie.
I have a couple maxed out tolevel 50.
I have a couple perfects, I havefour or five best buddy, level
50 Caterpie.
So I'm kind of done specificallywith the Caterpie collection.
Now it's more so, getting themfrom certain people.
(09:56):
Like, oh, yeah, I got a Caterpiefrom such and such, got one from
such and such, So now it's justmore so making the trade with
people to remember it by, so.
David Hernandez (10:05):
What were some of your goals for Caterpie?
MikeNerdLaw (10:07):
My big goal was just trying to get one of every
CP.
That was the biggest goal.
And then at one point I wantedto get one, a Caterpie from all
seven continents.
So, the Antarctica Caterpie.
I still don't have, but, that'skind of the last one I want to
get.
I want to go to the, South Poleor something to get a Caterpie,
which would be pretty crazy,but, you know, they only spawn a
few months a year now, too, so,the darn season changes and
(10:29):
whatnot, really cut into some ofthe spawns,
David Hernandez (10:31):
So if you listen to this podcast and
you're from Antarctica hit upMike Nerdlock because he's
looking for Caterpie.
MikeNerdLaw (10:36):
Yes, thank you, yes, shout out to all you
Antarctican, Antarcticanites,please.
David Hernandez (10:43):
For sure, and give me a free ride because I
didn't want to check outAntarctica myself.
I'm a big fan.
MikeNerdLaw (10:47):
Well, I'm in, I'm in Minnesota, which is awfully
close to Antarctica weather wisesometimes maybe that counts, I
don't know.
David Hernandez (10:54):
Well, do you still try to play Pokemon Go in
the winter, like when it getscold up there?
Or do you stay indoors?
MikeNerdLaw (10:58):
we have the Mall of America here, so during the
winter time, that's pretty muchwhere I'll play.
Always zipping around there oncommunity days, staying warm,
but, yeah, I grew up here so thewinter, doesn't really bother me
anyway.
It's not a frozen song.
The cold never bothered meanyway.
So.
David Hernandez (11:15):
Are we about to sing Frozen here in a minute?
MikeNerdLaw (11:17):
We could do a duet later.
We'll save that for the afterhours.
David Hernandez (11:21):
Let it go, let it go.
MikeNerdLaw (11:23):
Yes.
David Hernandez (11:24):
so you said you never played any of the main
series games.
why did you never get intoPokemon when it initially
launched?
MikeNerdLaw (11:30):
You know, it honestly just never, caught my
interest and I played a lot ofsports too growing up.
hockey was a good chunk of mytime growing up, so games or
cards, growing up.
it just never happened.
David Hernandez (11:42):
But then Pokemon Go comes out and it
sounds like, I know you'veplayed more of the games since,
right?
MikeNerdLaw (11:46):
Yup.
a lot of, Pokemon Sword.
Those Dynamax adventures, man.
I, I could sit in those Dynamaxdens for hours trying to get
those shinies.
a blast.
I loved, Let's Go Eevee,whatever that was.
Loved that one as well,Brilliant Diamond, I played a
little bit of that too, but,yeah, Pogo and Sword are my
main, games by far.
(12:07):
I still play Sword almost everyday, I just love that game.
David Hernandez (12:10):
Just because of the Raidens or for other
MikeNerdLaw (12:12):
The Raid, the Raid Dens, I just love those Dens, I
love the challenge of thoseDens,
David Hernandez (12:16):
Well, let me ask you this, so if you were
going to have a team for PokemonSword of six Pokemon, who would
you have on there?
MikeNerdLaw (12:22):
Oh boy, Tough question, love it.
I mean you gotta have thecryogonal for the shield thing,
the trying to blink on the, themass reflect or whatever that,
wide guard! You gotta havecryogonal for the wide guard and
then really everybody elsedoesn't matter as long as you
got that to carry you through.
But, yeah, I always like to haveButterfree on my team as well
David Hernandez (12:41):
it's a distant cousin from Caterpie.
MikeNerdLaw (12:42):
Yeah, yeah, exactly.
So, specifically, yeah, asidefrom the, the wide guard and
the, butterfree, it doesn'treally matter too much to me,
honestly.
David Hernandez (12:50):
And Butterfree got like some kind of form,
right, Gigantamax or somethinglike that?
MikeNerdLaw (12:54):
Yeah, yeah, it's got that, that form, which is
pretty cool.
it's always fun to see it, like,super giant sized, too.
Like, oh, yeah.
It's too bad there's not aGigantamax, Caterpie, though.
That would be, fun.
David Hernandez (13:05):
Hey, not yet.
It could come.
MikeNerdLaw (13:07):
Not yet, yeah, exactly.
It'll be the next thing I tweetevery day is Gigantamax
Caterpie, please.
David Hernandez (13:13):
You have to tweet that to the Pokemon
Company, probably.
MikeNerdLaw (13:16):
If they don't have me on mute or block by now.
David Hernandez (13:19):
Do you also tweet them as well?
MikeNerdLaw (13:22):
I tweet them sometimes, I like to just keep
it to, Niantic and, Pokemon Goapp as much as possible, but,
occasionally I will, escape mylittle Pokemon Go app bubble
and, tweet Pokemon Company, but,I don't like to do it too much.
David Hernandez (13:36):
No, that's fair.
That's
MikeNerdLaw (13:37):
I wouldn't want to be annoying, you know, I
wouldn't want that at all.
David Hernandez (13:42):
So you talked about how you went to the first
Niantic Live event, which is2018 GO Fest.
have you been to any otherNiantic event?
MikeNerdLaw (13:48):
I did all three Chicago GoFests.
I did the Philadelphia SafariZone, the New York, GoFest,
Seattle GoFest.
I Was going to go to Vegas.
I had some stuff come up there,didn't make that, but,
David Hernandez (14:02):
Maybe a good thing with how it went down.
MikeNerdLaw (14:05):
yeah, yeah, true, true, true.
So, and then yeah, I plan ongoing international here
eventually, but that just hasn'thappened yet.
David Hernandez (14:13):
Well, besides New York City, what's one that
stuck out to you?
MikeNerdLaw (14:16):
the Philadelphia Safari Zone, I thought was
probably went the smoothestthrough all of them.
I just felt like everythingworked and the park was very, it
worked well.
Chicago obviously had itsissues.
I did not think the park or Ididn't have the event ticket for
New York.
I just went to hang out.
But I don't think that park wasvery conducive for, the event.
(14:38):
which I guess we'll probably getto New York eventually.
But yeah, I think Philadelphiawas probably the high point for
me as far as in person events.
David Hernandez (14:45):
Just because it actually worked and the gameplay
wise was decent, you didn't haveany problems.
MikeNerdLaw (14:50):
Yeah, I feel everything just for the most
part went smoothly, which sadlydoesn't happen as much as it
should with some of theseevents,
David Hernandez (14:58):
It's frustrating, right?
Because, you pay this money togo to these events.
You pay the ticket, you pay theflight, you play all this, and
then just to go there and it'slike, ah, there's glitches,
right?
It's frustrating sometimes.
MikeNerdLaw (15:08):
it is super frustrating, and, at some point,
in my opinion anyway, thebenefit of the doubt wears off
with me, and, the putter honorsof the event, Niantic, you can't
get it wrong every single time,like at some point you gotta
have one go off smoothly,because you can't have the same
old excuse every time, it's, ifyou're the common denominator
when something goes wrong everysingle time, it's a you problem,
(15:31):
not just stuff going wrong.
I don't know if that made sense,but I just feel like
Philadelphia was the closest toa perfect launch they had for an
event.
And, it sure would be nice forthese paid events if they went
smoothly, or even close tosmooth.
David Hernandez (15:44):
No, that makes sense, because it's like, you
hear it like in a relationshipkind of thing, right?
If you always, have some problemwith a relationship, usually
sometimes it's eventually you'rethe common denominator why it's
not working at some point.
MikeNerdLaw (15:55):
Yeah, yeah, I know, that's exactly it, sorry, one
second, Pokemon Go app justtweeted, so I have to do my
traditional cowboy hat caterpieplease response, alright, we're
good, sorry about that.
David Hernandez (16:05):
Ha ha, it's okay.
Ha ha You've been listening toas the Pokeball turns.
We're going to take a quickbreak.
We'll be right back.
MikeNerdLaw (17:06):
Can't miss one of those, rain, snow, sleet, or
shine, I always gotta get mytweet back at them.
sorry for that, but for real,like, at some point niantic is
the problem and they gotta gettheir stuff right because it's
so frustrating as a consumer andas somebody, paying for the
product to have stuff go wrongevery time.
I don't want to bash Niantic,all day long, but just would be
nice to have something work thatis paid for.
David Hernandez (17:28):
eventually you head to New York this past year,
that's where I got to meet youfor the first time, but you
didn't pay for the ticket.
You went there just to meetpeople, correct?
MikeNerdLaw (17:37):
Correct.
David Hernandez (17:38):
Why did you go there without paying the ticket?
MikeNerdLaw (17:40):
I made the promise to myself and everybody that I
was not going to give Nianticanother dime out of my wallet.
And, I've stuck to that.
I just feel like they don'tdeserve my hard earned...
Again, I don't want to bashNiantic again.
I just feel like they don'tdeserve my money anymore.
I'm not purposely, actively,like, against giving them any
(18:02):
money anymore.
They just haven't given me agood reason to give them money.
And, the people in New York...
I wanted to see the people andthat's all I cared about.
So I'm like, nope, I'm going tofly out there, hang out, have a
blast with everybody and noteven play the game.
And that's exactly what I did.
I had fun with the people and,yeah, I didn't even play the
game.
(18:23):
No regrets, no regrets, notplaying the game.
David Hernandez (18:26):
That's actually something I was wondering
because, you know, a lot ofpeople, they would think you're
crazy, right?
To go, you know, spend money,right?
To go to an event you can't evenparticipate.
But you went there clearly forthe people and you stuck to your
guns because you were showingyour screen there in New York
City.
Was it a different experiencefor you just to go there just
for the people and not have toplay Pokemon Go?
MikeNerdLaw (18:44):
I think it was a hundred percent positive
experience.
It was nice.
it was like everybody I wantedto see was there and because
that park was very divided intwo halves, it was very hard to
get around.
It's like, that's okay.
Everybody's got to swing back tothis half anyway and see me.
So it's like, that's fine.
I'll stick in one spot becauseI'm not playing the game.
(19:04):
I don't have to go back andforth between the two halves.
I don't have to go into thecity.
I can just stay in the park.
And just everybody, everybody Iwant to see will eventually come
to me and yeah there was a lotof people I would've loved to
see that I didn't but by stayingstationary in one spot, I was
able to see a great majority ofpeople I wanted to see, so I
would do it over again andactually for future events,
(19:25):
that's exactly what I plan ondoing is not paying for the
event ticket, but just going tothe event and hanging out.
David Hernandez (19:32):
To get off topic real quick, one thing I
love that you did is youactually did a video collage of
everybody saying Cowboy HatCaterpie of all the people.
I don't know if they were allthe people, but a lot of people
you met, you kind of got on thevideo and you put a collage
together.
MikeNerdLaw (19:43):
Yeah, I love that.
That was so much fun and like,even looking back, it made me
realize you know what?
This game is so much about thepeople and it was just the whole
video the little 10 minute videoI made was just like a time
capsule like a recap of theentire event of everybody I saw
and it was great and I actuallyfuture events I plan on doing a
(20:03):
video for every go fest I go tofrom here on out, in that same
style getting everybody to saycowboy at Caterpie, please
because that was fun.
It was a lot of fun Of all thevideos I've made and like all
the streams I've done that videois by far The favorite one I've
ever done.
I just I'd love I love it.
I've watched it a dozen timesthat it puts a smile on my face
every time
David Hernandez (20:22):
Oh, that's so, man, it's so
MikeNerdLaw (20:25):
So many good people, so many good people in
there, so.
David Hernandez (20:28):
there's other people who maybe feel jaded by
Niantic.
Like you said, they've done somethings that the community may
not have agreed with, that hasrubbed people the wrong way.
what would you advise people whomaybe feel the same way you do,
that they don't feel comfortablegiving Niantic money, but want
to be there for the people,
MikeNerdLaw (20:42):
I look at it this way, is...
Don't feel guilty spendingmoney, but also don't feel
guilty not spending money.
Like, you'll know, you'll knowwhat feels right for me, I have
no regrets, like...
I didn't spend the money andprobably had more fun than I
would have.
I wouldn't have met thosehundred people if I had my nose
to the phone the entire time.
(21:03):
like, great example.
I met the person that made myTwitter banner.
David Hernandez (21:08):
Oh, really?
MikeNerdLaw (21:09):
had never met this person before.
And they just came up to me.
Hey, I made your Twi like, I'msuch and such.
I made your Twitter banner.
I'm like...
Oh my goodness, like, had I notbeen in costume, had I not been
just there, I would have nevermet this person.
And it was just, just one ofmany examples of, had I been
playing the game, I might'vemissed out on this.
and I would actually encouragepeople that, you know, Niantic's
(21:30):
probably gonna hate me forsaying this, going back to what
happened in Vegas, but I wouldencourage people if you don't
have a ticket, go hang out inthe park anyway with the people
because the people make thisgame worth it.
to me, this game...
I've kind of came 180 on thewhole matter.
And to me the game actually isabout the community and about
the people, that's where I havethe fun Will I buy an event
(21:50):
ticket in the future?
Probably not.
But, you'll know what you wantto do.
Sorry, it's a very roundaboutanswer.
But, uh, go with your gut, youknow.
David Hernandez (21:59):
No, that's fair.
I mean, just be honest.
That's all you can be.
MikeNerdLaw (22:01):
yeah, exactly like, I'm not gonna, I'm not gonna
guilt trip people.
Like, I'm not gonna be like, oh,You bought the ticket?
What the heck?
Like, no, that's not, that's notwhat I'm about.
Like, it's your hard earnedmoney.
It's your, thought processes.
Buy the ticket if you want.
I chose not to.
David Hernandez (22:16):
No, and that's what I was going to say, like, a
lot of us work for a living.
however you decide to use themoney, it's your call, people
can judge you, but unlessthey're paying your rent, it
doesn't really matter.
MikeNerdLaw (22:25):
Well said.
David Hernandez (22:26):
So are the people kind of what keeps you
motivated to keep playingPokemon Go at this point?
MikeNerdLaw (22:30):
Yeah, it's, it's 90 percent people and it's 10
percent I'm not going to give upon my little bug.
Like until that little bugger isin the game.
I didn't even say bugger onpurpose.
I just kind of came up until thelittle bug is in the game.
I'm not giving up, but, yeah,there's just so many wonderful
people that play this game, butit really hurts me, sorry this
(22:51):
is going to be a little sidetangent, I hate it when us as a
community, ourselves as acommunity, fight amongst
ourselves, and get in theselittle silly battles amongst
ourselves.
This game is so much a part ofour lives, we have so much in
common with each other, byplaying this game, why can't we
just get along?
You know, we have, something incommon that we spend as much
time on should be a thing thatbrings us together not tears us
(23:14):
apart And I hate it when I seepeople fighting over this game
like guys.
It's a game sorry.
I just I need to get that off mychest me to get it, can't can't
we all just get along
David Hernandez (23:25):
you think of the jokes people had, like, 2016
was world peace, right?
That's always the joke that wego to, but that's really what it
was like, playing Pokemon Go.
Everybody got along for the sakeof playing Pokemon and I think
what you're asking is notunreasonable, because we've done
it before.
MikeNerdLaw (23:38):
yeah we all have this enemy in common, Niantic,
honestly, like Niantic's likethe living, breathing Team
Rocket, right?
why can't we as players just getalong?
And that would be, maybe this ison your question list or
whatever, but if I had one goalfor this game...
It would be for all of us to getalong with each other as
players.
Then I think we truly beat thegame when we all get along.
(24:02):
As cheesy as that sounds.
And that's all I really want.
I want everybody to get along.
David Hernandez (24:07):
No, that's good words to live by.
And that was one of myquestions, so it saved me one.
MikeNerdLaw (24:10):
Ha ha, you're welcome.
Bill's in the mail.
David Hernandez (24:14):
Well, going forward, Niantic has released
cowboy hat Pokemon.
We had the cowboy hat Snorlax atGoFest Seattle.
We had the cowboy hat Slowpoke.
Do you feel like eventuallycowboy hat Caterpie will come?
MikeNerdLaw (24:26):
I do.
Well, okay, my short answer is Ido.
my long answer is I don't thinkit'll be a standalone.
Like, I don't think there willever be cowboy hat Caterpie
spawns.
Yeah, sorry to disappointeverybody, I'm disappointed
myself.
what I think will happen isthere will be, like, a way to
accessorize your buddy at somepoint like, you'll be able to
(24:46):
put a hat on your buddy, put avest on your buddy, whatever.
I think that'll be how you'll beable to put a cowboy hat on your
buddy, in my case, Caterpie.
And I'll have a cowboy hatCaterpie that way.
I don't think it'll be Snorlaxor Slowpoke style,
unfortunately.
But, I know, it's a bummer, butI'm, I gotta be realistic too,
you know?
David Hernandez (25:07):
well any particular reason why you don't
think that would be like how itis with Slowpoke?
MikeNerdLaw (25:11):
I just don't think in the big picture of things
like, I'm just one guy with thislittle community, or growing
community here.
But in the grand scheme of thePokemon world, you know...
cowboy eyed caterpie is not abig thing.
it's not like Snorlax, it's notlike Slowpoke in the movie or
whatever.
It's just such a small piece ofthe puzzle.
I just don't think,realistically, the Pokemon
(25:32):
Company will ultimately probablymake that decision.
I don't think it's a big enoughchunk of the pie, for the
Pokemon Company to green lightit, unfortunately.
But, I'd love to be provenwrong, but that's my thoughts on
it anyway.
David Hernandez (25:45):
I was gonna say we did get Party Hat Wurmple and
that was just based on thegraphic image Niantic released,
so I don't think it's out of therealm of possibility that it
couldn't happen.
MikeNerdLaw (25:54):
I like your thinking.
I do like your thinking.
David Hernandez (25:57):
Well, let's say, let's say that, Cowboy Hat
Caterpie comes.
What would be next for you?
MikeNerdLaw (26:02):
I would probably sleep.
Oh, Um.
Now, I have the notificationson, obviously, for every tweet.
I'm not a bot, I've never been abot.
These have been me manuallytweeting that every single time.
But, man, having some of thosenotifications go off around the
clock, especially during events,it'd be nice to turn off those
notifications, but, I'm notgoing anywhere.
(26:23):
I'm still gonna be a big part ofthe community.
I'm still gonna hang out, youknow, whatever.
I'll probably thank them forabout 10, 000 tweets in a row.
But, I'm not really going toworry about what is next until
it happens,
David Hernandez (26:38):
With all the live events you've been to, have
you ever talked to Niantic inperson and asked them in person
about having Cowboy HatCaterpie?
MikeNerdLaw (26:45):
I have not directly...
Ask them, hey, why isn't this inthe game yet?
But I have had some funconversations with Niantic
representatives about it andabout how fun it is.
But, I have not directly askedthe question.
I'm shy and introverted like wediscussed 20 minutes ago.
But no, I, I, I feel like myasking is just on Twitter is
more appropriate and more fun.
(27:07):
So...
David Hernandez (27:08):
No, that's fair.
Do they know who you are though,when you talked with them in
person?
MikeNerdLaw (27:12):
I would say, when I'm in costume, without a doubt,
I definitely have talked, I'vehad several Niantic folks coming
up to me while I've been incostume, like, Hey, are you the
guy?
I'm like, yeah, I'm the guy.
Definitely.
Like, who else would dress inthe costume, first off?
And then I've had some funpictures with Niantic folks, I
hope they took it back to theirNiantic buddies at HQ.
Hey, I met Cowboy Hat Caterpieguy! but, I kinda like, I kinda
(27:36):
like it the way it is with justasking on Twitter.
I think it's just more fun thatway.
David Hernandez (27:40):
Well, Mike, that's the interview.
thank you for coming on theshow.
If people want to connect withyou, if they want to check you
out on Twitter, maybe check outyour videos on YouTube, where
can they go?
By all means, please plug away.
MikeNerdLaw (27:50):
Well, I appreciate the opportunity to plug.
the big thing is just,@MikeNerdLaw on Twitter.
That's the best way to find me.
That's where I'm most active.
I do have a YouTube channellinked there.
I Appreciate the opportunity to,drop a plug there.
David Hernandez (28:02):
Cool beans.
I'll make sure to include linksto everything to connect with my
nerd law in the description tothis episode.
MikeNerdLaw (28:08):
And one last thing, thank you everybody for
listening, and of course, cowboyhat Caterpie please.
David Hernandez (28:15):
Thank you for listening to As the Pokeball
Turns.
If you want to support the show,consider becoming a patron by
either clicking the link in thedescription or going to patreon.
com slash as the pokeball turns.
Now here's a sneak peek for thenext episode of As the Pokeball
Turns.
My name is David Hernandez, and you're
listening to As the PokeballTurns.
(00:44):
Welcome to As the PokeballTurns, where the stories are
real and people still play thisgame.
costume Pokemon are nothing newwithin Pokemon Go.
The very first costume Pokemonwas a Santa hat Pikachu back in
December of 2016.
Over the years, more costumePokemon have been introduced
into Pokemon Go, ranging fromhats, sunglasses, to even armor.
(01:05):
It begs the question.
If you could create your owncostume Pokemon, what would it
be?
would it be an Unown wearing amonocle?
Maybe a Rayquaza with a top hat?
Maybe you need a Pikachu wearingthe jersey of your favorite
sports team.
My guest in this episode is on amission to have one particular
Pokemon wearing a cowboy hatintroduced into Pokemon Go.
(01:26):
On social media, he consistentlycontacts Niantic using only four
words, Cowboy Hat Caterpie,please.
From Viridian Forest, here ishis origin story into the world
of Pokemon Go.
This is Mike Nerdlaw.
Today, I'm joined by the mannedunder the cowboy hat and the
number one Caterpie fan,MIkeNerdLaw! Mike, welcome to
(01:50):
the show.
MikeNerdLaw (01:51):
Hey, hey! Thank you for having me! Hello, everybody!
David Hernandez (01:54):
Definitely Mike, and I'm happy you came on
the show.
I remember we got to meet in NewYork City and you were dressed
up in the Caterpie costume.
One thing I was wondering islike, where did you get that
costume from?
MikeNerdLaw (02:04):
that is actually the third version of the
costume.
I lost one in Seattle and onein, Philly.
They didn't survive the entirefestival.
So yeah, I just ordered them,from Amazon, actually.
from China, they take like sixmonths, but I got them and,
yeah, it's pretty crazy.
I have, another one on the wayto replace the one that, didn't
survive NYC, so it should beready for, festivals come next
(02:27):
year, so.
David Hernandez (02:29):
that was the one that was ripped, right?
Cause it, I think it ripped,like, on the shoulder blade.
MikeNerdLaw (02:33):
Yeah, that one ripped almost immediately,
little duct tape was able to atleast get me through the event.
But, you get what you pay for,so.
David Hernandez (02:41):
Well, that's fair, that's fair.
before we dive into, like, howthis all started with
CowboyHatCaterpie, Cause I'minterested, cause you were one
of the first people I ran intowhen I joined Twitter.
And I'm like, what'sCowboyHatCaterpie?
what was your first experiencewith Pokemon Go?
MikeNerdLaw (02:53):
my first experience with Pokemon Go, Which kind of
ties into how Cowboy HatCaterpie came to be, so, to
preface, I had never played anyof the games growing up, never
watched any of the shows, didn'tknow anything about Pokemon.
until shortly before Pokemon Gocame out, I was at my best
friend's apartment, and sittingon our coffee table was a Game
(03:14):
Boy and had a Pokemon game inthere.
I'd never, you know, neverplayed it before.
We're just sitting therechilling, watching baseball or
something, and I picked it upand...
Oh, okay, Pokemon.
Never played this before.
Whatever.
You know, let's give it a try.
So, fired the game up and I waswalking around with the guy
and...
Ran into something and all of asudden, you know, a wild
Caterpie appears.
Well, I didn't know how topronounce the thing.
(03:35):
So she tells me immediately, no,it's Caterpie.
I'm like, I don't know, it lookslike Caterpie to me.
But anyway, I caught it.
that was my first Pokemon was aCaterpie.
So I've always called themTerpies since then.
just because that's how Ilearned it.
I didn't know any better.
So I did that for a littlewhile, and like a week or two,
literally a week or two later,Pokemon Go came out, and I
(03:56):
didn't really have any desire toplay, but my friend was gonna
play, and I'm like, well, youknow, I'll do anything once.
So, grabbed Pokemon Go andstarted playing it, right on
release day, which, what, July7th of 2016?
I think that's what it was.
And, lo and behold, I've beenplaying it ever since.
so yeah, I had a little, briefexperience with, Pokemon red or
blue, whatever it was, that dayand then Pokemon go from the
(04:18):
beginning.
And then, um, to connect to thecowboy had Caterpie aspect of
things, I grew up on a farm.
So I've always loved farming,always that kind of thing.
That's where the cowboy hat camefrom.
So that part of the story is notcrazy.
It's not nothing special aboutthat.
The crazy part of the story is,at that same friend's apartment,
there's a couple of kids,probably six or seven years old,
(04:38):
maybe eight, they're playingPokemon cards, again, I didn't
play the game.
I don't know anything.
And they're, playing cards atour apartment and I'm walking by
and I asked this kid.
Hey! That's what you guys areplaying Pokemon.
Do you have any Katerpies?
And the kid looked at me like Ihad just like...
You know, insulted his mother orsomething.
He just looks at me, just glaresat me.
It's Caterpie, dummy! This, thiseight year old called me a
(05:01):
dummy.
So like, it was like war at thispoint.
From that point forward, I sworeto catch all the terpies.
And just like, nope, I gottacatch them all, cause I can't
let this kid have, you know, allthese terpies.
And I'd originally, funnyenough, wanted to catch...
One of every CP, Caterpie allthe way from, 10 all the way up.
And I was like 5 or 6 away fromhaving like the entire set, like
(05:22):
every number.
But then they redid the CPcalculations after like 6, 7, 8
months of the game before Icould ever complete that quest.
But yeah, at one point I hadlike a thousand something,
Terpies in my storage.
I still have probably a thousandin my storage, but, the
combination of, Caterpie beingthe first pokemon I ever
experienced as well as that kid.
It just got me always hooked onCaterpie and then the cowboy hat
(05:43):
was just a natural thing.
So that's how Cowboy HatCaterpie was born.
David Hernandez (05:47):
Wow, so it came from you playing your friend's
game, and that was the firstPokemon you experienced, or the
Pokemon you caught on that game,and then the Cowboy Hat Caterpie
is because you grew up on afarm.
MikeNerdLaw (05:56):
Yep.
David Hernandez (05:57):
So when did the, costume and you starting
asking Niantic to have CowboyHat Caterpie come to play?
Was that right away?
Or was that coming later on?
MikeNerdLaw (06:05):
It was not right away.
there was some event with a hator something fairly early on.
It might have been prior toParty Hat Wurmple.
It was probably like a Pikachuhat, something.
Cause, Pikachu has 12, 000different costumes and hats at
this point.
But I just randomly one day onTwitter, so my original, my
Twitter account originally hadnothing to do with Pokemon, and
then just one day I thought itwould be funny to, tweet
(06:27):
CowboyHatCaterpie, please, andthen I just started doing that
over and over and over, and itjust became a thing, so.
And it's been, four years nowsince, the first time I asked
for it.
So, my quest continues!
David Hernandez (06:40):
What is it like for you to think about how many
people have grasped on to, like,the idea of asking for a cowboy
hat Caterpie in game now?
Because when you go to theselive events, a lot of people
come up and say hello to you.
MikeNerdLaw (06:51):
It's cool, like, in real life, I'm like the most
shy, introverted person ever.
Like, I...
Don't talk to people.
I'm just, I'm terrified ofpeople like people are scary.
Like, I don't want to talk toanybody.
For whatever reason, like when Iput on that costume or, even
like at this point, a lot ofpeople know what I look like
outside of the costume now too,from, you know, Twitter and
(07:12):
whatnot, but it's just crazy.
I put on that costume andsuddenly like everybody wants to
see me and talk to me.
It's like, it's almost like myshield.
Like I can just talk to peoplewhile I have the costume on.
It's wild.
I've never been like the mostpopular person ever been like,
you know, I'm not really apeople person.
So to have people want to meetme and like want to see me or
want to meet up with me, it'sjust wild to me.
And I love it.
(07:32):
It's so crazy.
David Hernandez (07:34):
You mentioned how you're usually shy.
the first event you went to incostume, were you still shy at
that point?
Were you still nervous, or were,like, the nerves completely
taken away once you were in thecostume?
MikeNerdLaw (07:43):
my first time in costume, I was nervous, not
because I was so much incostume, but because I was, at
that point, I was streaming fulltime as well, and a lot of my
regulars were gonna be there,and I was just nervous to meet
all my regulars.
I'm like, oh man, what if myregulars hate me?
Like, what if my, Twitch modshate me?
or, whatever.
So I was more nervous for that,turns out.
(08:04):
I have the greatest mods ever.
I have the greatest, regularsever.
So I shouldn't have beennervous, but I was, but that was
just a great introduction to thecostume.
Then the feedback I got from thecostume, made things just, it
was just so great.
I'm like, all right, I justgotta, costume up for every
event.
It's like tradition.
So I love it.
Like I will never go to eventswithout the costume now,
(08:25):
basically.
David Hernandez (08:27):
And I assume you, like, take pictures, and do
you trade Pokemon?
Do people trade you Caterpieswhenever they meet you?
MikeNerdLaw (08:32):
Yep.
I, I, I, I get, I do a lot ofCaterpie trades, a lot of,
trades in general.
the very first go fast I was at,I traded a Caterpie, or sorry, I
traded a Shadowball Mewtwo for aCaterpie from Mexico, because I
didn't have a Mexican Caterpieat that point.
The dude was so confused why Iwould trade a Mewtwo for a
Caterpie.
I'm like, don't ask questions,just give me your Caterpie.
(08:53):
Is basically what it boiled downSo like, and there was actually
like a Niantic representative orsomething right there too, just
like...
Why would you trade it?
Like, don't ask questions like,I only care about Caterpie.
that was pretty wild.
That was the first, like, realthing when I realized that, wait
a minute, like, Caterpie is mything.
number 10 is always number onein my heart, you know?
David Hernandez (09:11):
Well, I mean just to put into context, Shadow
Ball Mewtwo back in 2018 I'mguessing.
That was ridiculously rarebecause we didn't have elite TMs
back in those days.
So you were reliant on gettingthem from elite raids, or EX
raids is what they were called.
MikeNerdLaw (09:25):
The x rays, yeah, yeah.
David Hernandez (09:27):
So is that like one of your goals?
Do you like to try and collectcaterpillars from all over the
world now?
You save a thousand of them,like how do you know which ones
to keep or do you keep them all?
MikeNerdLaw (09:34):
I've honestly scaled back on the, the Caterpie
collection, just because I feellike I've...
Kind of achieved everything Iwant collection wise from the
Caterpie.
I have a couple maxed out tolevel 50.
I have a couple perfects, I havefour or five best buddy, level
50 Caterpie.
So I'm kind of done specificallywith the Caterpie collection.
Now it's more so, getting themfrom certain people.
(09:56):
Like, oh, yeah, I got a Caterpiefrom such and such, got one from
such and such, So now it's justmore so making the trade with
people to remember it by, so.
David Hernandez (10:05):
What were some of your goals for Caterpie?
MikeNerdLaw (10:07):
My big goal was just trying to get one of every
CP.
That was the biggest goal.
And then at one point I wantedto get one, a Caterpie from all
seven continents.
So, the Antarctica Caterpie.
I still don't have, but, that'skind of the last one I want to
get.
I want to go to the, South Poleor something to get a Caterpie,
which would be pretty crazy,but, you know, they only spawn a
few months a year now, too, so,the darn season changes and
(10:29):
whatnot, really cut into some ofthe spawns,
David Hernandez (10:31):
So if you listen to this podcast and
you're from Antarctica hit upMike Nerdlock because he's
looking for Caterpie.
MikeNerdLaw (10:36):
Yes, thank you, yes, shout out to all you
Antarctican, Antarcticanites,please.
David Hernandez (10:43):
For sure, and give me a free ride because I
didn't want to check outAntarctica myself.
I'm a big fan.
MikeNerdLaw (10:47):
Well, I'm in, I'm in Minnesota, which is awfully
close to Antarctica weather wisesometimes maybe that counts, I
don't know.
David Hernandez (10:54):
Well, do you still try to play Pokemon Go in
the winter, like when it getscold up there?
Or do you stay indoors?
MikeNerdLaw (10:58):
we have the Mall of America here, so during the
winter time, that's pretty muchwhere I'll play.
Always zipping around there oncommunity days, staying warm,
but, yeah, I grew up here so thewinter, doesn't really bother me
anyway.
It's not a frozen song.
The cold never bothered meanyway.
So.
David Hernandez (11:15):
Are we about to sing Frozen here in a minute?
MikeNerdLaw (11:17):
We could do a duet later.
We'll save that for the afterhours.
David Hernandez (11:21):
Let it go, let it go.
MikeNerdLaw (11:23):
Yes.
David Hernandez (11:24):
so you said you never played any of the main
series games.
why did you never get intoPokemon when it initially
launched?
MikeNerdLaw (11:30):
You know, it honestly just never, caught my
interest and I played a lot ofsports too growing up.
hockey was a good chunk of mytime growing up, so games or
cards, growing up.
it just never happened.
David Hernandez (11:42):
But then Pokemon Go comes out and it
sounds like, I know you'veplayed more of the games since,
right?
MikeNerdLaw (11:46):
Yup.
a lot of, Pokemon Sword.
Those Dynamax adventures, man.
I, I could sit in those Dynamaxdens for hours trying to get
those shinies.
a blast.
I loved, Let's Go Eevee,whatever that was.
Loved that one as well,Brilliant Diamond, I played a
little bit of that too, but,yeah, Pogo and Sword are my
main, games by far.
(12:07):
I still play Sword almost everyday, I just love that game.
David Hernandez (12:10):
Just because of the Raidens or for other
MikeNerdLaw (12:12):
The Raid, the Raid Dens, I just love those Dens, I
love the challenge of thoseDens,
David Hernandez (12:16):
Well, let me ask you this, so if you were
going to have a team for PokemonSword of six Pokemon, who would
you have on there?
MikeNerdLaw (12:22):
Oh boy, Tough question, love it.
I mean you gotta have thecryogonal for the shield thing,
the trying to blink on the, themass reflect or whatever that,
wide guard! You gotta havecryogonal for the wide guard and
then really everybody elsedoesn't matter as long as you
got that to carry you through.
But, yeah, I always like to haveButterfree on my team as well
David Hernandez (12:41):
it's a distant cousin from Caterpie.
MikeNerdLaw (12:42):
Yeah, yeah, exactly.
So, specifically, yeah, asidefrom the, the wide guard and
the, butterfree, it doesn'treally matter too much to me,
honestly.
David Hernandez (12:50):
And Butterfree got like some kind of form,
right, Gigantamax or somethinglike that?
MikeNerdLaw (12:54):
Yeah, yeah, it's got that, that form, which is
pretty cool.
it's always fun to see it, like,super giant sized, too.
Like, oh, yeah.
It's too bad there's not aGigantamax, Caterpie, though.
That would be, fun.
David Hernandez (13:05):
Hey, not yet.
It could come.
MikeNerdLaw (13:07):
Not yet, yeah, exactly.
It'll be the next thing I tweetevery day is Gigantamax
Caterpie, please.
David Hernandez (13:13):
You have to tweet that to the Pokemon
Company, probably.
MikeNerdLaw (13:16):
If they don't have me on mute or block by now.
David Hernandez (13:19):
Do you also tweet them as well?
MikeNerdLaw (13:22):
I tweet them sometimes, I like to just keep
it to, Niantic and, Pokemon Goapp as much as possible, but,
occasionally I will, escape mylittle Pokemon Go app bubble
and, tweet Pokemon Company, but,I don't like to do it too much.
David Hernandez (13:36):
No, that's fair.
That's
MikeNerdLaw (13:37):
I wouldn't want to be annoying, you know, I
wouldn't want that at all.
David Hernandez (13:42):
So you talked about how you went to the first
Niantic Live event, which is2018 GO Fest.
have you been to any otherNiantic event?
MikeNerdLaw (13:48):
I did all three Chicago GoFests.
I did the Philadelphia SafariZone, the New York, GoFest,
Seattle GoFest.
I Was going to go to Vegas.
I had some stuff come up there,didn't make that, but,
David Hernandez (14:02):
Maybe a good thing with how it went down.
MikeNerdLaw (14:05):
yeah, yeah, true, true, true.
So, and then yeah, I plan ongoing international here
eventually, but that just hasn'thappened yet.
David Hernandez (14:13):
Well, besides New York City, what's one that
stuck out to you?
MikeNerdLaw (14:16):
the Philadelphia Safari Zone, I thought was
probably went the smoothestthrough all of them.
I just felt like everythingworked and the park was very, it
worked well.
Chicago obviously had itsissues.
I did not think the park or Ididn't have the event ticket for
New York.
I just went to hang out.
But I don't think that park wasvery conducive for, the event.
(14:38):
which I guess we'll probably getto New York eventually.
But yeah, I think Philadelphiawas probably the high point for
me as far as in person events.
David Hernandez (14:45):
Just because it actually worked and the gameplay
wise was decent, you didn't haveany problems.
MikeNerdLaw (14:50):
Yeah, I feel everything just for the most
part went smoothly, which sadlydoesn't happen as much as it
should with some of theseevents,
David Hernandez (14:58):
It's frustrating, right?
Because, you pay this money togo to these events.
You pay the ticket, you pay theflight, you play all this, and
then just to go there and it'slike, ah, there's glitches,
right?
It's frustrating sometimes.
MikeNerdLaw (15:08):
it is super frustrating, and, at some point,
in my opinion anyway, thebenefit of the doubt wears off
with me, and, the putter honorsof the event, Niantic, you can't
get it wrong every single time,like at some point you gotta
have one go off smoothly,because you can't have the same
old excuse every time, it's, ifyou're the common denominator
when something goes wrong everysingle time, it's a you problem,
(15:31):
not just stuff going wrong.
I don't know if that made sense,but I just feel like
Philadelphia was the closest toa perfect launch they had for an
event.
And, it sure would be nice forthese paid events if they went
smoothly, or even close tosmooth.
David Hernandez (15:44):
No, that makes sense, because it's like, you
hear it like in a relationshipkind of thing, right?
If you always, have some problemwith a relationship, usually
sometimes it's eventually you'rethe common denominator why it's
not working at some point.
MikeNerdLaw (15:55):
Yeah, yeah, I know, that's exactly it, sorry, one
second, Pokemon Go app justtweeted, so I have to do my
traditional cowboy hat caterpieplease response, alright, we're
good, sorry about that.
David Hernandez (16:05):
Ha ha, it's okay.
Ha ha You've been listening toas the Pokeball turns.
We're going to take a quickbreak.
We'll be right back.
MikeNerdLaw (17:06):
Can't miss one of those, rain, snow, sleet, or
shine, I always gotta get mytweet back at them.
sorry for that, but for real,like, at some point niantic is
the problem and they gotta gettheir stuff right because it's
so frustrating as a consumer andas somebody, paying for the
product to have stuff go wrongevery time.
I don't want to bash Niantic,all day long, but just would be
nice to have something work thatis paid for.
David Hernandez (17:28):
eventually you head to New York this past year,
that's where I got to meet youfor the first time, but you
didn't pay for the ticket.
You went there just to meetpeople, correct?
MikeNerdLaw (17:37):
Correct.
David Hernandez (17:38):
Why did you go there without paying the ticket?
MikeNerdLaw (17:40):
I made the promise to myself and everybody that I
was not going to give Nianticanother dime out of my wallet.
And, I've stuck to that.
I just feel like they don'tdeserve my hard earned...
Again, I don't want to bashNiantic again.
I just feel like they don'tdeserve my money anymore.
I'm not purposely, actively,like, against giving them any
(18:02):
money anymore.
They just haven't given me agood reason to give them money.
And, the people in New York...
I wanted to see the people andthat's all I cared about.
So I'm like, nope, I'm going tofly out there, hang out, have a
blast with everybody and noteven play the game.
And that's exactly what I did.
I had fun with the people and,yeah, I didn't even play the
game.
(18:23):
No regrets, no regrets, notplaying the game.
David Hernandez (18:26):
That's actually something I was wondering
because, you know, a lot ofpeople, they would think you're
crazy, right?
To go, you know, spend money,right?
To go to an event you can't evenparticipate.
But you went there clearly forthe people and you stuck to your
guns because you were showingyour screen there in New York
City.
Was it a different experiencefor you just to go there just
for the people and not have toplay Pokemon Go?
MikeNerdLaw (18:44):
I think it was a hundred percent positive
experience.
It was nice.
it was like everybody I wantedto see was there and because
that park was very divided intwo halves, it was very hard to
get around.
It's like, that's okay.
Everybody's got to swing back tothis half anyway and see me.
So it's like, that's fine.
I'll stick in one spot becauseI'm not playing the game.
(19:04):
I don't have to go back andforth between the two halves.
I don't have to go into thecity.
I can just stay in the park.
And just everybody, everybody Iwant to see will eventually come
to me and yeah there was a lotof people I would've loved to
see that I didn't but by stayingstationary in one spot, I was
able to see a great majority ofpeople I wanted to see, so I
would do it over again andactually for future events,
(19:25):
that's exactly what I plan ondoing is not paying for the
event ticket, but just going tothe event and hanging out.
David Hernandez (19:32):
To get off topic real quick, one thing I
love that you did is youactually did a video collage of
everybody saying Cowboy HatCaterpie of all the people.
I don't know if they were allthe people, but a lot of people
you met, you kind of got on thevideo and you put a collage
together.
MikeNerdLaw (19:43):
Yeah, I love that.
That was so much fun and like,even looking back, it made me
realize you know what?
This game is so much about thepeople and it was just the whole
video the little 10 minute videoI made was just like a time
capsule like a recap of theentire event of everybody I saw
and it was great and I actuallyfuture events I plan on doing a
(20:03):
video for every go fest I go tofrom here on out, in that same
style getting everybody to saycowboy at Caterpie, please
because that was fun.
It was a lot of fun Of all thevideos I've made and like all
the streams I've done that videois by far The favorite one I've
ever done.
I just I'd love I love it.
I've watched it a dozen timesthat it puts a smile on my face
every time
David Hernandez (20:22):
Oh, that's so, man, it's so
MikeNerdLaw (20:25):
So many good people, so many good people in
there, so.
David Hernandez (20:28):
there's other people who maybe feel jaded by
Niantic.
Like you said, they've done somethings that the community may
not have agreed with, that hasrubbed people the wrong way.
what would you advise people whomaybe feel the same way you do,
that they don't feel comfortablegiving Niantic money, but want
to be there for the people,
MikeNerdLaw (20:42):
I look at it this way, is...
Don't feel guilty spendingmoney, but also don't feel
guilty not spending money.
Like, you'll know, you'll knowwhat feels right for me, I have
no regrets, like...
I didn't spend the money andprobably had more fun than I
would have.
I wouldn't have met thosehundred people if I had my nose
to the phone the entire time.
(21:03):
like, great example.
I met the person that made myTwitter banner.
David Hernandez (21:08):
Oh, really?
MikeNerdLaw (21:09):
had never met this person before.
And they just came up to me.
Hey, I made your Twi like, I'msuch and such.
I made your Twitter banner.
I'm like...
Oh my goodness, like, had I notbeen in costume, had I not been
just there, I would have nevermet this person.
And it was just, just one ofmany examples of, had I been
playing the game, I might'vemissed out on this.
and I would actually encouragepeople that, you know, Niantic's
(21:30):
probably gonna hate me forsaying this, going back to what
happened in Vegas, but I wouldencourage people if you don't
have a ticket, go hang out inthe park anyway with the people
because the people make thisgame worth it.
to me, this game...
I've kind of came 180 on thewhole matter.
And to me the game actually isabout the community and about
the people, that's where I havethe fun Will I buy an event
(21:50):
ticket in the future?
Probably not.
But, you'll know what you wantto do.
Sorry, it's a very roundaboutanswer.
But, uh, go with your gut, youknow.
David Hernandez (21:59):
No, that's fair.
I mean, just be honest.
That's all you can be.
MikeNerdLaw (22:01):
yeah, exactly like, I'm not gonna, I'm not gonna
guilt trip people.
Like, I'm not gonna be like, oh,You bought the ticket?
What the heck?
Like, no, that's not, that's notwhat I'm about.
Like, it's your hard earnedmoney.
It's your, thought processes.
Buy the ticket if you want.
I chose not to.
David Hernandez (22:16):
No, and that's what I was going to say, like, a
lot of us work for a living.
however you decide to use themoney, it's your call, people
can judge you, but unlessthey're paying your rent, it
doesn't really matter.
MikeNerdLaw (22:25):
Well said.
David Hernandez (22:26):
So are the people kind of what keeps you
motivated to keep playingPokemon Go at this point?
MikeNerdLaw (22:30):
Yeah, it's, it's 90 percent people and it's 10
percent I'm not going to give upon my little bug.
Like until that little bugger isin the game.
I didn't even say bugger onpurpose.
I just kind of came up until thelittle bug is in the game.
I'm not giving up, but, yeah,there's just so many wonderful
people that play this game, butit really hurts me, sorry this
(22:51):
is going to be a little sidetangent, I hate it when us as a
community, ourselves as acommunity, fight amongst
ourselves, and get in theselittle silly battles amongst
ourselves.
This game is so much a part ofour lives, we have so much in
common with each other, byplaying this game, why can't we
just get along?
You know, we have, something incommon that we spend as much
time on should be a thing thatbrings us together not tears us
(23:14):
apart And I hate it when I seepeople fighting over this game
like guys.
It's a game sorry.
I just I need to get that off mychest me to get it, can't can't
we all just get along
David Hernandez (23:25):
you think of the jokes people had, like, 2016
was world peace, right?
That's always the joke that wego to, but that's really what it
was like, playing Pokemon Go.
Everybody got along for the sakeof playing Pokemon and I think
what you're asking is notunreasonable, because we've done
it before.
MikeNerdLaw (23:38):
yeah we all have this enemy in common, Niantic,
honestly, like Niantic's likethe living, breathing Team
Rocket, right?
why can't we as players just getalong?
And that would be, maybe this ison your question list or
whatever, but if I had one goalfor this game...
It would be for all of us to getalong with each other as
players.
Then I think we truly beat thegame when we all get along.
(24:02):
As cheesy as that sounds.
And that's all I really want.
I want everybody to get along.
David Hernandez (24:07):
No, that's good words to live by.
And that was one of myquestions, so it saved me one.
MikeNerdLaw (24:10):
Ha ha, you're welcome.
Bill's in the mail.
David Hernandez (24:14):
Well, going forward, Niantic has released
cowboy hat Pokemon.
We had the cowboy hat Snorlax atGoFest Seattle.
We had the cowboy hat Slowpoke.
Do you feel like eventuallycowboy hat Caterpie will come?
MikeNerdLaw (24:26):
I do.
Well, okay, my short answer is Ido.
my long answer is I don't thinkit'll be a standalone.
Like, I don't think there willever be cowboy hat Caterpie
spawns.
Yeah, sorry to disappointeverybody, I'm disappointed
myself.
what I think will happen isthere will be, like, a way to
accessorize your buddy at somepoint like, you'll be able to
(24:46):
put a hat on your buddy, put avest on your buddy, whatever.
I think that'll be how you'll beable to put a cowboy hat on your
buddy, in my case, Caterpie.
And I'll have a cowboy hatCaterpie that way.
I don't think it'll be Snorlaxor Slowpoke style,
unfortunately.
But, I know, it's a bummer, butI'm, I gotta be realistic too,
you know?
David Hernandez (25:07):
well any particular reason why you don't
think that would be like how itis with Slowpoke?
MikeNerdLaw (25:11):
I just don't think in the big picture of things
like, I'm just one guy with thislittle community, or growing
community here.
But in the grand scheme of thePokemon world, you know...
cowboy eyed caterpie is not abig thing.
it's not like Snorlax, it's notlike Slowpoke in the movie or
whatever.
It's just such a small piece ofthe puzzle.
I just don't think,realistically, the Pokemon
(25:32):
Company will ultimately probablymake that decision.
I don't think it's a big enoughchunk of the pie, for the
Pokemon Company to green lightit, unfortunately.
But, I'd love to be provenwrong, but that's my thoughts on
it anyway.
David Hernandez (25:45):
I was gonna say we did get Party Hat Wurmple and
that was just based on thegraphic image Niantic released,
so I don't think it's out of therealm of possibility that it
couldn't happen.
MikeNerdLaw (25:54):
I like your thinking.
I do like your thinking.
David Hernandez (25:57):
Well, let's say, let's say that, Cowboy Hat
Caterpie comes.
What would be next for you?
MikeNerdLaw (26:02):
I would probably sleep.
Oh, Um.
Now, I have the notificationson, obviously, for every tweet.
I'm not a bot, I've never been abot.
These have been me manuallytweeting that every single time.
But, man, having some of thosenotifications go off around the
clock, especially during events,it'd be nice to turn off those
notifications, but, I'm notgoing anywhere.
(26:23):
I'm still gonna be a big part ofthe community.
I'm still gonna hang out, youknow, whatever.
I'll probably thank them forabout 10, 000 tweets in a row.
But, I'm not really going toworry about what is next until
it happens,
David Hernandez (26:38):
With all the live events you've been to, have
you ever talked to Niantic inperson and asked them in person
about having Cowboy HatCaterpie?
MikeNerdLaw (26:45):
I have not directly...
Ask them, hey, why isn't this inthe game yet?
But I have had some funconversations with Niantic
representatives about it andabout how fun it is.
But, I have not directly askedthe question.
I'm shy and introverted like wediscussed 20 minutes ago.
But no, I, I, I feel like myasking is just on Twitter is
more appropriate and more fun.
(27:07):
So...
David Hernandez (27:08):
No, that's fair.
Do they know who you are though,when you talked with them in
person?
MikeNerdLaw (27:12):
I would say, when I'm in costume, without a doubt,
I definitely have talked, I'vehad several Niantic folks coming
up to me while I've been incostume, like, Hey, are you the
guy?
I'm like, yeah, I'm the guy.
Definitely.
Like, who else would dress inthe costume, first off?
And then I've had some funpictures with Niantic folks, I
hope they took it back to theirNiantic buddies at HQ.
Hey, I met Cowboy Hat Caterpieguy! but, I kinda like, I kinda
(27:36):
like it the way it is with justasking on Twitter.
I think it's just more fun thatway.
David Hernandez (27:40):
Well, Mike, that's the interview.
thank you for coming on theshow.
If people want to connect withyou, if they want to check you
out on Twitter, maybe check outyour videos on YouTube, where
can they go?
By all means, please plug away.
MikeNerdLaw (27:50):
Well, I appreciate the opportunity to plug.
the big thing is just,@MikeNerdLaw on Twitter.
That's the best way to find me.
That's where I'm most active.
I do have a YouTube channellinked there.
I Appreciate the opportunity to,drop a plug there.
David Hernandez (28:02):
Cool beans.
I'll make sure to include linksto everything to connect with my
nerd law in the description tothis episode.
MikeNerdLaw (28:08):
And one last thing, thank you everybody for
listening, and of course, cowboyhat Caterpie please.
David Hernandez (28:15):
Thank you for listening to As the Pokeball
Turns.
If you want to support the show,consider becoming a patron by
either clicking the link in thedescription or going to patreon.
com slash as the pokeball turns.
Now here's a sneak peek for thenext episode of As the Pokeball
Turns.
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