Autisticana

a gallery of autistic special/intense interests

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Category: Pokemon

  • Title: Finding Voices: How Characters from Disney, Marvel, and More Speak to the Autistic Community

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    The world of animation and superhero epics is one of enchantment and wonder, where the impossible becomes possible, and where characters often defy the odds in pursuit of their destinies. It’s a world that resonates deeply with many, especially within the autistic community. For autistic individuals, characters from Disney, Marvel, and other beloved franchises often become more than just parts of a story; they become mediums through which they can understand and express their own emotions, experiences, and identities.

    The phenomenon of finding one’s voice through fictional characters is beautifully illustrated in many contexts, including in heartfelt moments of “Love on the Spectrum,” a show that explores the lives of autistic adults navigating the complex world of relationships. In one memorable scene, David and Abby share a connection by singing “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?” from Disney’s “The Lion King.” This simple act of singing a song from a cherished movie provided a means for them to communicate feelings that might otherwise have been challenging to express directly.

    Characters from Disney films and Marvel comics, in particular, embody a broad spectrum of traits, including perseverance, uniqueness, bravery, and vulnerability. Autistic individuals often see reflections of themselves in characters who are also different or misunderstood. This identification can be incredibly empowering. It reassures them that their unique qualities are not just acceptable but are superpowers in their own right.

    Moreover, many Disney and Marvel characters undergo journeys that mirror the challenges and triumphs that autistic people may face. For instance, Elsa from “Frozen” struggles with her magical abilities, feeling isolated because she is different. However, she ultimately learns to embrace her powers, finding her place in the world. Similarly, characters like Groot from “Guardians of the Galaxy,” whose ability to express a vast range of emotions and thoughts with the single line “I am Groot,” show that communication can take many forms, a concept that resonates with many non-verbal or minimally verbal autistic individuals.

    Using lines, songs, and character arcs from these stories allows autistic people to externalize their emotions and communicate in a way that others can understand and connect with. It provides a shared language, a bridge between experiencing the world differently and finding common emotional ground with others.

    This connection also extends beyond individual moments of expression. Engaging with these characters and their stories in social settings, like theme parks, conventions, or movie viewings, can foster a sense of community and belonging. Sharing a favorite character or song from a movie creates an immediate connection with others who appreciate the same stories, making these characters powerful tools for social interaction and bonding.

    In celebrating the ways in which autistic individuals connect with characters from Disney, Marvel, and more, we are reminded of the universal power of storytelling. It’s a force that transcends the boundaries of neurotypical and neurodiverse experiences, inviting everyone into a world where differences are not just accepted but celebrated. Through the voices of Elsa, Groot, and many others, autistic individuals find their own voice, empowering them to tell their unique stories in a world that is learning to listen more closely.

    In embracing these characters and the messages they carry, there is an opportunity for all of us to better understand and appreciate the diverse ways in which people communicate and experience the world around them. So, the next time you hear someone quoting a line from “Spider-Man” or singing a song from “Moana,” take a moment to appreciate the depth of connection and expression that these characters facilitate. It’s a beautiful reminder of the power of stories to unite us, to give us voice, and to help us see the world through each other’s eye

    Stay tuned for more of these wonderful stories of neurodivergence in my new book

    “Amazing Autism” :what you thought you knew,..

    An insight into the brain of neurodivergence

    Insights by

    Dr. Christine Grimaldi

  • Glitches in Pokémon Games: Celebi Egg Glitch

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    by Elliot Gavin Keenan

    In Pokémon Gold/Silver/Crystal (Generation 2) there was no legitimate way for players outside of Japan to obtain every Pokémon. The mythical Pokémon Celebi, who resides in a shrine in Ilex Forest, was only obtainable as the result of a special event distribution; at the time, these distributions required a physical setup and a link cable. Due to the declining popularity of Pokémon in the English-speaking world at the time, Celebi was never distributed. This meant that English-language players could not complete the Pokédex.

    Celebi, a mythical Pokémon and the spirit of the forests.

    However, this did not deter all English-language players from completing the game. Users of the fan-made English website Glitch City Laboratories found a specific exploit that allowed the player to generate a Celebi without the use of third-party cheating software such as a GameShark or Action Replay (neither of which were widely used yet).

    You may wonder how such a specific, targeted exploit of the game was possible. The important thing to understand about it mechanistically is that in the Generation 2 games, Pokémon and moves (and items) were coded in a single table defined by index numbers. That is to say, a single table encoded different types of information (and hence, the number of Pokémon was exactly equivalent to the number of moves ⁠— 251). See below for an example of an index number table:

    A table of different types of information associated with a single index number.

    Interestingly, there is one move in the game that no Pokémon could legitimately learn: Struggle, index number 165, shared with Ledyba. For this reason, Ledyba is actually the only Pokémon not obtainable using this exploit. You can see a list of Pokémon by index number in Gen 2 here.

    This exploit does not produce glitch Pokémon when performed correctly, although if there is no move in the correct slot it will produce a bad clone of the glitch⁠ Pokémon ?????. In theory, there are only 4 glitch Pokémon in Gen 2 because the index numbers are stored in one byte (8 bits) ⁠— meaning it can only hold exactly 255 entries, and the first 251 are valid. (Getting rid of these bad clones is very difficult; perhaps a future blog post!) Actually, incorrect performance of the exploit can cause widespread corruption of game data and affect the entire game, potentially making in unplayable.

    Some weird things can happen.

    Point is, though, that any valid Pokémon except for Ledyba can be produced using the Celebi Egg Glitch, despite its title. The move Splash (#150) will result in Mewtwo, for example. But the move Beat Up is what we are interested in, since it has #251 ⁠— Celebi.

    You must be wondering by now, how do I perform the glitch?! Well, there’s an article for that as the procedure requires a great deal of precision to get the Pokémon you want. Good luck!

    Dr. Grimaldi’s Takeaway:

    This post is excellent! It demonstrates the power and perseverance of the Pokémon community to problem-solve an issue that appeared to be an unsolvable problem through creative thinking and extensive knowledge of the game’s code.