- Joined
- Oct 9, 2024
- Messages
- 160
- Reaction score
- 604
- Pronouns
- She/Her
- He/Him
- Refer To Profile
Hello! Recently, I've been looking into a topic that I find interesting: geek codes of the old internet.
Geek codes (also colloquially known as signature codes and fan codes, and referred to on Wikipedia as "Internet self-classification codes") were a trend on the 1990s-2000s internet to self-identify as within a certain group by displaying a code. The contents of this code, when decoded, would tell the viewer things about yourself! The most prominent and well-known of these was the Geek Code (or "Code of the Geeks"), developed in 1993, which became so well-known that "geek code" became an umbrella term for these sorts of codes.
From my research, I have gathered that two Pokemon fan codes were created -- both in/for/associated with the newsgroup alt.games.nintendo.pokemon. The first one, the Pokemon Fan Code made in 1999, seems to be lost to time, as the Wayback Machine has not archived the page where its specifications were listed. There was also a successor code for this which has been lost. However, another one was also made, seemingly unrelated to the previous attempts, later on.
Since a lot of geek codes were typically made for, or in association with, a specific newsgroup or forum, it made me wonder what a geek code for Bulbagarden users (a "BulbaCode", if you will) would look like. Mind, a lot of the things that a geek code would usually share (your favorite(s), information about you, etc) can just be shared on the "question-and-answer" section of your profile, so they are, admittedly, a bit obsolete. But, if my interest in the old internet (and my doing this research because I was aiming to make a geek code of my own on an unrelated topic) is anything to go by, obsolete things can still be fun!
This thread was initially just a list of suggestions of what a BulbaCode could look like. But after feedback from others, I've put together a finalized version!
In order to make your own BulbaCode, simply make your way through this survey and answer whatever you want! You can skip any question you'd like. As is tradition for geek codes, you can put the resulting code in your signature!
Thank you to @VeniaSilente and @terashards for their help in making this code!
General Modifiers
There is one universal modifier for this code: the + symbol can be used anywhere it applies in order to denote more than one answer! But note that using a lot of these will lengthen your code quite a bit.
Code Identification
To identify the code you're using, add the following text to the beginning: "BULBACODE"
The beta version of this code had the code identifier "Bulba0"
p - Favorite Pokemon
In order to share you favorite Pokemon, use their national dex number (with no zeroes in front of it -- for example, use #12 for Butterfree, not #0012).
Example:
t - Favorite Type
Shorten your favorite Type to its first 3 letters in order to use it here!
Example:
sp - Your Specialty
This references what aspect of Pokemon you focus the most on!
Example:
ser - The Services You Provide the Fandom
Tell us what type of things you make, or do, in relation to Pokemon! Fandom is a gift economy, after all.
Example:
gen - Favorite Generation
Use the numbered generations to indicate your favorite generation!
Example:
r - Favorite Region
In order to share you favorite region, use their generation number! (Example:
If neither of the above word for you, put your favorite region in quotes! (Example:
ml - Favorite Mainline Game
Use the acronyms listed below to share your favorite mainline game!
Example:
so - Favorite Spinoff
Use the acronyms listed below to share your favorite spinoff game/spinoff series!
Example:
a - Favorite Anime Series
If you'd like to share your favorite anime series, use the prefixes provided on the list of animated series episodes. For the original series (including the Indigo League, Orange Island and Johto League arcs), use "OG".
Example:
mv - Favorite Movie
Use the numbers on the Bulbapedia Pokemon movie list to share which movie is your favorite! If your favorite is Detective Pikachu, indicate that with "DP" instead.
Example:
cg - Favorite TCG Set
Use the set abbreviations listed on Bulbapedia in order to share which is your personal favorite!
Example:
ma - Favorite Manga Arc
This specifically refers to the Pokemon Adventures/Pokemon Special series of manga! When indicating your favorite manga arc, use the game prefixes previously discussed with the mainline game question.
Example:
ch - Favorite Character
In order to share your favorite character, put their first name in quotes! Do not include last names, titles, etc. If you need a title or a last name to specify what character you're talking about, check out the modifiers instead! If your favorite character is a specific Pokemon, check the modifiers, as well.
Example:
e - Age
E is for "evolution"! Use evolution level to loosely indicate your age.
g - Gender
Indicate the gender that you identify with!
Example:
n - Nature
Indicate your Nature by shortening it to its first 3 letters!
Example:
tc - Time Spent in the Pokemon Fandom
Lastly, indicate how much time you've spent with Pokemon. Similar to using evolution for age, we're using Trainer Classes to indicate your experience!
Example:
Hopefully, now, your BulbaCode is complete! If you need one final example, here is a completed BulbaCode: mine! I'll translate it for you, too!
Decoded, this means:
Geek codes (also colloquially known as signature codes and fan codes, and referred to on Wikipedia as "Internet self-classification codes") were a trend on the 1990s-2000s internet to self-identify as within a certain group by displaying a code. The contents of this code, when decoded, would tell the viewer things about yourself! The most prominent and well-known of these was the Geek Code (or "Code of the Geeks"), developed in 1993, which became so well-known that "geek code" became an umbrella term for these sorts of codes.
From my research, I have gathered that two Pokemon fan codes were created -- both in/for/associated with the newsgroup alt.games.nintendo.pokemon. The first one, the Pokemon Fan Code made in 1999, seems to be lost to time, as the Wayback Machine has not archived the page where its specifications were listed. There was also a successor code for this which has been lost. However, another one was also made, seemingly unrelated to the previous attempts, later on.
Since a lot of geek codes were typically made for, or in association with, a specific newsgroup or forum, it made me wonder what a geek code for Bulbagarden users (a "BulbaCode", if you will) would look like. Mind, a lot of the things that a geek code would usually share (your favorite(s), information about you, etc) can just be shared on the "question-and-answer" section of your profile, so they are, admittedly, a bit obsolete. But, if my interest in the old internet (and my doing this research because I was aiming to make a geek code of my own on an unrelated topic) is anything to go by, obsolete things can still be fun!
This thread was initially just a list of suggestions of what a BulbaCode could look like. But after feedback from others, I've put together a finalized version!
The challenge with geek codes is trying to share as much information about yourself in relation to a topic, in as little space as possible. (I recommend checking out the Furcode 2.0 Encoder and Decoder if you want to get an idea as to how this is done!) Here are some hypothetical ways that I've thought of to do that:
- Sharing a favorite Pokemon in a small amount of space is easy! Use their PokeDex number! (Example:
p:#0251would communicate that your favorite Pokemon is Celebi) - Favorite Types could be shortened to their first three-to-two letters. Electric-type could be Ele, Fairy-type could be Fai, Ground-type could be Gr, etc. (Example:
t:Faiwould communicate that your favorite Typing is Fairy!) Your Nature could be done similarly. (Example:n:Jowould indicate that you have a Jolly nature.) - Your "specialty" could reference what aspect of Pokemon you focus on. G could be for Games, S for Shows (including movies), TCG for the card game, Ma for the manga, Au for music, Mer for merchandise, etc. + could be used to indicate multiple specialties. (Example:
sp:G+Merindicates that someone focuses on the games and merchendise.) - Sharing your favorite Generation or mainline game is also self-explanatory. We already have numbered generations, and well-known acronyms for the games themselves. (Examples:
gen:4would share that the 4th generation of games is your favorite, andml:BWwould share that Black and White are your favorite mainline games.) We could assign acronyms to each spin-off series, too. (Example:so:PMDwould share that Pokemon Mystery Dungeon is your favorite Pokemon spin-off). - Trying to come up with a way to indicate a favorite human character is significantly harder. The way that the only-archived original Pokemon fan code did it was listing out all the characters, and assigning them two letters each. ("Ka" was used for Kasumi/Misty, and so forth.) This was more plausible at the time, when only up to Gold and Silver were released, but now, we have tons of characters, many of which share similar (or even the same) names, as well as characters whose names are debated (is the rival Green or Blue?)! The only way I could conceive of doing this is by somehow assigning numbers to each entry in Bulbapedia's own Project CharacterDex? Though I don't know how this would be done. (Ideas welcome!)
- It's also traditional to include information about yourself! (All of this information, of course, being completely optional to include.) It could include:
- Age (I think it'd be cute to reference evolution for this, so
e:1stfor first-stage (minors), ande:Finfor final-stage (adults)) - Gender (straightforward enough: M for Male/Masculine, F for Female/Feminine, NB for Nonbinary, AG for agender and MG for multigender. + could be used to indicate multiple genders. So
g:NB+Fwould be a nonbinary and female/feminine individual.) - Time spent in the Pokemon fandom -- similar to evolution's reference with age, we could reference Trainer Classes for this! Youngster could be less than a year (
tc:Y), PokeKid could be 1-2 years (tc:PK), School Kid could be 3-4 years (tc:SK), Gym Trainer could be 5-6 years (tc:GT), Ace Trainer could be 7-8 years (tc:AT), Gym Leader could be 9-10 years (tc:GL), and Pokemon Professor could be 10+ years (tc:PP).)
- Age (I think it'd be cute to reference evolution for this, so
In order to make your own BulbaCode, simply make your way through this survey and answer whatever you want! You can skip any question you'd like. As is tradition for geek codes, you can put the resulting code in your signature!
Thank you to @VeniaSilente and @terashards for their help in making this code!
General Modifiers
There is one universal modifier for this code: the + symbol can be used anywhere it applies in order to denote more than one answer! But note that using a lot of these will lengthen your code quite a bit.
Code Identification
To identify the code you're using, add the following text to the beginning: "BULBACODE"
The beta version of this code had the code identifier "Bulba0"
p - Favorite Pokemon
In order to share you favorite Pokemon, use their national dex number (with no zeroes in front of it -- for example, use #12 for Butterfree, not #0012).
Example:
p:#251 would indicate your favorite Pokemon is Celebi.- Regional Forms: If your favorite is a regional variant, use the region's associated generational number! (So, 7 for Alolan forms, 8 for both Hisuian or Galarian forms, and 9 for Paldean forms.) (Example:
p:#571[r8]would indicate your favorite Pokemon is Hisuian Zoroark.) - Gendered Forms: If your favorite has gendered forms, use M and F to indicate gender! (Example:
p:#876[gM]would indicate your favorite Pokemon is male form Indeedee.) - Other Forms: If your favorite is a Mega form, use M to indicate this. If your favorite is a Gigantimax form, use G. If your Pokemon has a unique type of form, surround what type of form it is with these: "". (Examples:
p:#359[fM]would indicate your favorite Pokemon is Mega Absol.p:#849[fG]would indicate your favorite Pokemon is Gigantimax Toxtricity.p:#383[f"Primal"]would indicate your favorite Pokemon is Primal Groudon.)
t - Favorite Type
Shorten your favorite Type to its first 3 letters in order to use it here!
Example:
t:Ele would indicate your favorite Pokemon Type is Electric.sp - Your Specialty
This references what aspect of Pokemon you focus the most on!
- G: games
- S: shows (includes the mainline anime, movies, animated specials, etc)
- TCG: the trading card game
- Ma: manga
- Au: music ("au" for "audio")
- Mer: merchandise
- O: other. follow this up with your specification in quotes.
Example:
sp:G+O"modding" would indicate you mainly focus on Pokemon games and modding.ser - The Services You Provide the Fandom
Tell us what type of things you make, or do, in relation to Pokemon! Fandom is a gift economy, after all.
- A: Artist
- MC: Musician
- W: Writer
- V: Video editor/YouTuber
- E: Editor of graphics (such as icons, etc)
- C: Competitive player (VGC, competitive TCG, etc)
- RH: ROM hack creator
- P: Programmer
- DD: Data dumper
- MD: Moderates server/forum
- ER: Runs fan events
- WM: Webmaster
- TL: translator
- CS: cosplayer
- PL: playlist curator
Example:
ser:CS would indicate that you cosplay Pokemon characters.gen - Favorite Generation
Use the numbered generations to indicate your favorite generation!
Example:
gen:4 would indicate the 4th generation of games is your favorite.r - Favorite Region
In order to share you favorite region, use their generation number! (Example:
r:2 would indicate that Johto is your favorite region.) You can also use the acronyms for spinoffs shown a few questions down to indicate the region that they take place in. (Example: r:COL would indicate that Orre is your favorite region.)If neither of the above word for you, put your favorite region in quotes! (Example:
r:"Sevii Islands" would indicate that the Sevii Islands are your favorite region.)ml - Favorite Mainline Game
Use the acronyms listed below to share your favorite mainline game!
- RB: Red and Blue (as they are known in America)
- G: Green (as it is known in America)
- RG: Red and Green (as they are known in Japan)
- B: Blue (as it is known in Japan)
- Y: Yellow
- GS: Gold and Silver
- C: Crystal
- RS: Ruby and Sapphire
- E: Emerald
- FRLG: FireRed and LeafGreen
- DP: Diamond and Pearl
- PT: Platinum
- HGSS: HeartGold and SoulSilver
- BW: Black and White
- B2W2: Black 2 and White 2
- XY: X and Y
- ORAS: Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire
- SM: Sun and Moon
- USUM: Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon
- LGPE: Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee
- SWSH: Sword and Shield
- BDSP: Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl
- LA: Legends: Arceus
- SV: Scarlet and Violet
- LZA: Legends: Z-A (this isn't released yet at the time of me writing this, but it will be soon, so I wanna get ahead of the game!)
Example:
ml:B2W2 would indicate that Black 2 and White 2 are your favorite games.so - Favorite Spinoff
Use the acronyms listed below to share your favorite spinoff game/spinoff series!
- PK: Hey You, Pikachu!, Pokemon Channel and Pokemon Dash
- TCG: the Pokemon Trading Card game series on the GameBoy, Pokemon Play It! and Pokemon Play It! Version 2, and the TCG Online, Live, and Pocket
- S: Snap and its remake
- PC: Picross
- COL: Colosseum
- SD: Stadium
- XD: XD: Gale of Darkness
- BR: Battle Revolution
- PB: Pinball
- PZ: Puzzle
- TZ: Trozei
- PMD: Mystery Dungeon
- R: Ranger
- PCK: Puck
- RU: Rumble
- PP: PokePark
- DPK: Detective Pikachu
- TA: Typing Adventure
- CQ: Conquest
- AA: Art Academy
- TP: The Thieves and the 1000 Pokemon
- SH: Shuffle
- PT: Pokken Tournament
- GO: Go
- MJ: Magikarp Jump
- Q: Quest
- ES: Masters EX
- SP: Sleep
- TB: Tower Battle
- MB: Medallion Battle
- SML: Smile
- CRM: Cafe ReMix
- UN: Unite
- FR: Friends
- PKP: Pokopia (not released yet as-of my time writing this, but, again, gotta get ahead of the game)
Example:
so:DPK would indicate that Detective Pikachu is your favorite spinoff series.a - Favorite Anime Series
If you'd like to share your favorite anime series, use the prefixes provided on the list of animated series episodes. For the original series (including the Indigo League, Orange Island and Johto League arcs), use "OG".
Example:
a:XY would indicate your favorite anime series is X and Y.mv - Favorite Movie
Use the numbers on the Bulbapedia Pokemon movie list to share which movie is your favorite! If your favorite is Detective Pikachu, indicate that with "DP" instead.
Example:
mv:4 would indicate your favorite movie is Pokemon 4Ever - Celebi: The Voice of the Forest.cg - Favorite TCG Set
Use the set abbreviations listed on Bulbapedia in order to share which is your personal favorite!
Example:
cg:FST would indicate your favorite TCG set is Sword & Shield - Fusion Strike!ma - Favorite Manga Arc
This specifically refers to the Pokemon Adventures/Pokemon Special series of manga! When indicating your favorite manga arc, use the game prefixes previously discussed with the mainline game question.
Example:
ma:E would indicate your favorite manga arc is the Emerald arc!ch - Favorite Character
In order to share your favorite character, put their first name in quotes! Do not include last names, titles, etc. If you need a title or a last name to specify what character you're talking about, check out the modifiers instead! If your favorite character is a specific Pokemon, check the modifiers, as well.
Example:
ch:"Elm" would indicate that Professor Elm is your favorite character.- Language: Some people like to use the Japanese names of certain characters, or their native language! To indicate the language, use 'l', and then the ISO 639 Set 1 indicator of your language! (Examples:
ch:"Blue"[l:ENG]would indicate your favorite character is the male Kanto rival, named Blue in English translations.ch:"Green"[l:JA]would indicate your favorite character is the male Kanto rival, named Green in the Japanese text.) - Source: You can indicate your character's source material!
- [a]: From the anime! You can use [a:Episode of Origin], if you want to get more specific. (Example:
ch:"Joy"[a:EP002]would indicate your favorite character is the Nurse Joy that debuted in episode 2 of the anime.) The episode tags are the ones standardized by Bulbapedia! - [g]: From the games! You can use the game acronyms established in "favorite mainline game", if you want to get more specific. (Example:
ch:"Guzma"[g:USUM]would indicate your favorite character is the Guzma in Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.) - [m]: From the manga! The following are a list of acronyms for the different series of manga, if you want to get more specific. (Example:
ch:"Red"[m:SP]would indicate your favorite character is the Red in Pokemon Special.)- SP: Pokemon Special, also known as Pokemon Adventures, series
- PPM: Pokemon Pocket Monsters series
- PMZ: Pocket Monsters Zensho
- GSGB: Pokemon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys
- PRS: Pokemon Ruby Sapphire
- RSSW: Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire Special Walkthrough Comic!
- BF: Pokemon Battle Frontier
- DPA: Pokemon Diamond and Pearl Adventure!
- DP: Pokemon Diamond Version - Pokemon Pearl Version
- DPR: Pocket Monsters Diamond and Pearl: Regigigas Major Capture Operation!!
- JBA: Pocket Monsters HGSS Jō's Big Adventure
- GGP: Pocket Monsters HeartGold & SoulSilver Go! Go! Pokethlon
- PCC: Pokemon HeartGold SoulSilver: Pokedex Completion Comic
- BTB: Be the Best! Pokemon B+W
- HFT: Pocket Monster BW: The Heroes of Fire and Thunder
- ANL: Pocket Monsters B2 W2 ~ A New Legend ~
- GP: Pocket Monsters BW: Good Partners
- MWL: Pocket Monsters BW: Meetings with the Legends
- CPIW: Pokemon Omega Ruby Crimson Passion and Pokemon Alpha Sapphire Indigo Wisdom
- PH: Pokemon Horizon
- LGA: Pocket Monsters Let's Go! Pikachu Let's Go! Eievui Adventure Start Comic
- CSL: Pokemon Colosseum Snatcher Leo
- CS: Pokemon Colosseum Snatchers
- WDDL: Pokemon XD: Whirlwind of Darkness, Dark Lugia (manga walkthrough)
- PMD: Pokemon Mystery Dungeon series
- PRC: Pokemon Ranger the Comic series
- MPR: Mobilize!! Pokemon Ranger
- PRM: Pokemon Ranger -The 1st Mission-
- PRCM: Pokemon Ranger: The Road to a "Capture" Master
- PRV: Pokemon Ranger Vatonage
- PRHO: Pokemon Ranger: Hero of Oblivia
- PBBM: Pokemon Battrio: Aim to be Battrio Master!
- PMTM: Pokemon Mezastar: Aim to Be a Tag Master!
- PFTF: Pokemon Frienda: Teach Me, Friender-Man!
- RCPS: Pokemon + Nobunaga's Ambition ~ Ranse's Color Picture Scroll ~
- PCPM: Welcome! Pokemon Cafe Pikavui's Mixing à la mode
- PUM: Pokemon UNITE Manga - Come On Over to Aeos Island!
- PMFC: Pocket Monsters Film Comic
- ETP: The Electric Tale of Pikachu
- AP: Ash & Pikachu
- PBEA: Pokemon Battle: Pikachu's Big Exciting Adventure
- PMDP: Pocket Monsters Diamond & Pearl
- PJ: Pokemon Journeys
- DPM: Daisuki ♥ Pocket Monsters
- LRA: Anime Pocket Monsters: Liko and Roy's Adventure
- LT: Pocket Monsters ~Liko's Treasure~
- PSP: Pocket Monsters ~Pucchigumi SP~
- TDV: Pocket Monsters ~The Detouring Volteccers!!~
- MPJ: Magical Pokemon Journey series
- YIGP: Pokemon: Yeah! I Got Pokemon!
- PABK: Pocket Monsters Platinum: Aim to Be Battle King!!
- PHT: Phantom Thief! series
- PTA: Pokemon Try Adventure
- PMRB: Pocket Monsters ReBURST
- PQPL: Pokemon Quiz Puzzle Land
- LPDK: Pocket Monsters XY: The Legend of the Pokemon Dragon King
- KSP: Kairiky's 24-Hour Strength Police!!
- MRT: We're the Mew Research Team
- PSTP: Pokemon Stories Together with Pikachu!
- PEM: Pokemon English Master
- PSD: Pocket Monsters Pikavui's Soothing DAYS
- KDG: Kabigon's Dream Gourmet
- ICCE: I Can't Choose, Eievui
- ARN: After the Rain, Numera.
- PCGC: Pokemon Card GB The Comix
- HBPC: How I Became a Pokemon Card
- ABCM: Aim to Be a Card Master!!
- PCGB: Pokemon Card Game Battle Comic
- EVPC: Exciting Victory! Pokemon Card Game!!
- LPPC: Let's Play the Pokemon Card Game!
- [o]: Other! Specify where in quotes. (Example:
ch:"Misty"[o:"Pokemon Live!"]would indicate your favorite character is the Misty in Pokemon Live.)
- [a]: From the anime! You can use [a:Episode of Origin], if you want to get more specific. (Example:
- For Pokemon: If your favorite character is a Pokemon without a nickname, use the 't' tag to indicate its Trainer, and its NatDex number, as shown in the favorite Pokemon section! You can use the above system for specifying the Trainer, in a nested form. (Examples:
ch:#350[t:"Cynthia"[g:PT]]would indicate your favorite character Cynthia's Milotic in Pokemon Platinum. For wild Pokemon from the anime, you can use the episode format established above, or M and the movie's number in order of release.ch:#570[a:M13]]would indicate that your favorite character is Zorua from the Master of Illusions movie.)
e - Age
E is for "evolution"! Use evolution level to loosely indicate your age.
e:1st is for first-stage evolutions (minors), and e:Fin for final-stage evolutions (adults)!g - Gender
Indicate the gender that you identify with!
- M: Male/masculine
- F: Female/feminine
- NB: Nonbinary
- AG: Agender/genderless
- MG: Multigender
Example:
g:NB would indicate that you're nonbinary.n - Nature
Indicate your Nature by shortening it to its first 3 letters!
Example:
n:Mod would indicate that you're Modest-natured.tc - Time Spent in the Pokemon Fandom
Lastly, indicate how much time you've spent with Pokemon. Similar to using evolution for age, we're using Trainer Classes to indicate your experience!
- Y: Youngster (less than a year)
- PK: PokeKid (1-2 years)
- SK: School Kid (3-4 years)
- GT: Gym Trainer (5-6 years)
- AT: Ace Trainer (7-8 years)
- GL: Gym Leader (9-10 years)
- E4: Elite 4 member (10-15 years)
- PP: Pokemon Professor (15-19 years)
- V: Veteran (20+ years)
Example:
tc:AT would indicate that you've been in the Pokemon fandom for 7-8 years.Hopefully, now, your BulbaCode is complete! If you need one final example, here is a completed BulbaCode: mine! I'll translate it for you, too!
BULBACODE p:#251 t:Fai sp:G+Mer ser:A+W+V+E+WM gen:8 r:2+8 ml:HGSS+SM+SWSH so:PMD ch:Bede[g] e:Fin g:MG+M+F n:Nai tc:PPDecoded, this means:
- This string of characters is a BulbaCode
- My favorite Pokemon is Celebi
- My favorite Type is Fairy
- I specialize in the games and merchandise
- I make art, writing, videos, graphics, and (a) website(s) for Pokemon
- My favorite generation is the 8th generation of games
- My favorite regions are Johto and Galar
- My favorite mainline games are HeartGold/SoulSilver, Sun/Moon, and Sword/Shield
- My favorite spinoff series is Pokemon Mystery Dungeon
- My favorite character is Bede from the games
- I am a final-stage evolution (adult)
- I am multigender, male/masculine and female/feminine
- My Nature is Naive
- My Trainer Class (time spent in the Pokemon fandom) is Pokemon Professor (15-19 years)
Last edited:
