Pokémon Trading Card Game Now on DS

The Pokémon Company is going to release a Pokémon TCG  based video game on the DS in Japan this summer! The new game is basically a tutorial on how to play the Pokémon Trading Card Game. It comes with a set of cards and also has a simulator where you can play against computer opponents. The game is being released in Japan on August fifth, and so far we have no information on the game being localized anywhere. Why does Japan get everything first?

This actually isn't the first time a game like this has been released. Nintendo released the Pokémon Trading Card Game on the Game Boy Color as early as 2000 in the U.S. and 1998 in Japan. The earlier game was a lot like the DS game, only it was less of a ploy to get you interested in playing the card game and more of a game of it's own. 


In the older game the player would start off with one themed deck. As the player won against computer opponents he or she would receive more cards that the player can use to customize his or her deck. There was an eight gym leader campaign like in the colored version Pokémon games (Red version, Gold version, etc.) . There were also a lot events that could be triggered in the game which allow the player to get secret cards. In my opinion the Game Boy TCG game was a lot cooler than the DS game.

There was also a PC game called "Pokémon Play It!"  released by Wizards of the Coast back when they were in charge of localizing the Trading Card Game. The PC game was basically the predecessor to the DS game being released now.


Even today the Pokemon Company International is working on Pokémon TCG online. TPCI is currently doing a closed beta of the online payer versus player feature and deck builder. You can access the beta by redeeming a code that can be found on booster packs in retail stores. In the meantime the online game has a feature for playing against computer opponents using preconstructed decks to keep players busy.


All in all, it's very interesting to see people get excited about a game that's in essence been around for years, but just got a new coat of paint on it. It makes me wonder: what would a Pokémon TCG game would look like in 2021?