The Pokemon trading card game (TCG) is one of the oldest Japanese trading card games and is based on the popular Pokémon video game franchise. Players build a deck1 of 60 cards to compete in strategy-driven battles with their opponents. Two players play at a time, with each using their own deck of Pokemon to attack and support their team. The first player to knock out all six of their opponent’s Pokemon wins the game.
Pokemon TCG cards are rectangular in shape and contain a picture of a specific Pokemon along with information about it. For example, a Pokemon card may list its name and horsepower, or the fact that it is a fire type or a water type. It might also note its weight and length, or where it can be found in nature.
Besides the standard card art, some Pokemon cards have special effects that occur when a Pokemon is played in a battle. These are known as status conditions and include Asleep, Confused, Burned, Poisoned or Paralyzed. These conditions are indicated by the way a card is turned, for example, 90 degrees counterclockwise (Asleep) or upside-down (Confused), or a special token being placed on it (Burned and Poisoned). A Pokemon with multiple status conditions remains affected by the most recent effect.
New cards are released often, usually when a new season of the Pokemon TV show or a new Pokemon video game is launched. These releases are known as expansions, and each one contains 100-200 new cards. Booster packs, which contain 10 cards, are also released in conjunction with expansions. Booster packs can contain any of the cards from an expansion, but they tend to focus on the new set’s theme.
There are many different ways to win a Pokemon TCG match, but the most common is to defeat all six of your opponent’s Pokemon and claim their prize cards. The number of reward cards a player receives is dependent on the Pokemon defeated: A holographic Charizard or Pikachu is worth one card, while a rare Darkrai or Celebi are worth three or more cards.
Creating a new Pokemon card involves three main parts: coming up with the idea, commissioning artwork and testing it with existing TCG rules. During the development process, the game’s designers and over 70 artists work full time on a variety of tasks. Creating a single Pokemon card typically takes two or more months, according to Nagashima.
The TCG’s game rules are constantly tweaked by the test room, with a few dramatic changes occurring every year and smaller adjustments made more frequently. Nagashima says that even with these changes, some cards still surprise the test room team and must be banned due to their impact on the game.
While the original Pokemon TCG was created in Japan, its popularity has made it an international phenomenon. In addition to its extensive retail presence, the Pokemon TCG has an online version that allows players from around the world to compete against each other. Pokemon trading cards