Fake cards: Difference between revisions

1,528 bytes added ,  1 September 2010
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[[Image:000s.missingno.jpg|right|thumb|An example of a Pokémon TCG fan-made image fake card]]
[[File:000s.missingno.jpg|right|thumb|An example of a Pokémon TCG fan-made image fake card]]
A '''fake card''' is a general term to denote any kind of custom, fictional or duplicate card based on cards from any particular trading card game, but are created by someone other than the original creators of that game, generally either by fans of the game or by some other company to sell to unsuspecting consumers. Since the release of the [[Pokémon TCG]], fans and nefarious companies alike began to make '''Pokémon fake cards''', and still continue to do so to this day.
A '''fake card''' is a general term to denote any kind of custom, fictional or duplicate card based on cards from any particular trading card game, but are created by someone other than the original creators of that game, generally either by fans of the game or by some other company to sell to unsuspecting consumers. Since the release of the [[Pokémon TCG]], fans and nefarious companies alike began to make '''Pokémon fake cards''', and still continue to do so to this day.


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==Counterfeit cards==
==Counterfeit cards==
These kinds of fakes are probably the first kinds of fake cards to have existed, probably being first released shortly after the Pokémon TCG was originally released in Japan in 1996. These cards are generally duplicates of existing cards, but printed on cheaper card stock, places on holographic foils, and/or slightly altered to make each card a humorous farce of its original (like a {{t|Psychic}} {{p|Rattata}} card with an attack that does 5000 damage). Counterfeit fakes continue to be a problem to this day and are becoming harder to spot as time goes on.
Counterfeit cards are likely the first type of fake cards to exist, appearing shortly after the Pokémon TCG grew in popularity in Japan. Counterfeit Pokémon cards are generally duplicates of existing cards, often contain flaws or cheaper materials which make them inferior to legitimate Pokémon cards.
 
In the early days of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, when the cards were gaining popularity in Western countries, counterfeit Pokémon cards frequently appeared in hopes of fooling unsuspecting buyers unfamiliar with the Pokémon franchise, as well as buyers who were unconcerned with the legitimacy of the cards, as Pokémon merchandise was in high demand and stores would be often out-of-stock of legitimate cards. Early counterfeit cards, made by companies such as Q-boy, were often exact copies of legitimate Pokémon cards, but printed on cheaper card stock and usually missing copyright information. Due to the cheap reproduction technologies used, counterfeit cards usually have lower-quality artwork, with print colors varying from the originals. In the late 1990s, police forces seized thousands of fake Pokémon cards, including over 500,000 from a warehouse in Hackensack, NJ.<ref>Hintze, Hal. "Fake 'n' Bake." Pojo's Unofficial Pokémon News & Price Guide Monthly Dec. 1999: 120-21.</ref>
 
Recent counterfeits are often more sophisticated than earlier attempts, however, modern counterfeits still have many flaws. Modern counterfeits are not usually direct copies of legitimate cards, and often contain critical spelling, grammatical, visual or factual errors. Common errors include the abscence of the e-acute on the word "Pokémon", wrong or mis-sized energy symbols, or mis-named Pokémon (such as "Farren" for {{p|Flareon}} or "Lation" for {{p|Latios}}). Occasionally, counterfeit cards will be slightly altered to make each card a humorous farce of its original (like a {{type2|Psychic}} {{p|Rattata}} card with an attack that does 5000 damage). To further deceive potential buyers, modern counterfeits usually retain copyright information.  


==Fan-made text fakes==
==Fan-made text fakes==
Probably the first kinds of fakes made by fans, text fakes are simple and easy to make. Most message boards with a sizable Pokémon TCG community has a Fake Card forum as well, like the PokéGym's Create-a-Card forum.
Probably the first kinds of fakes made by fans, text fakes are simple and easy to make. Most message boards with a sizable Pokémon TCG community have a fake card forum as well, like [[The PokéGym]]'s Create-a-Card forum.


==Fan-made custom cards==
==Fan-made custom cards==
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==Fan-made image fakes==
==Fan-made image fakes==
Fan-made image fakes make up the largest and most popular fake card community within the Pokémon community. This format was popularized by Nick15 when his first fake, Missingno., was posted on one of the largest Pokémon TCG websites of the day, the PokéCenter at CCGNews.com. Eventually Nick15 began posting his creations on his own website ''[[Pokémon Aaah!]]'', as well as instructions on how people can make their own. This system began to grow in popularity and was adopted by other sites, like ''[[Pokémon Zeo]]''. Although image fakes are not nearly as popular as they were in the past, there are still plenty of people and sites who continue to promote them, like ''PokemonCardMaker.ORG''. At times these kinds of cards can be found on auction sites like eBay, sold by people who don't know that they aren't real cards to begin with.
Fan-made image fakes make up the largest and most popular fake card community within the Pokémon community. This format was popularized by Nick15 when his first fake, Missingno., was posted on one of the largest Pokémon TCG websites of the day, the PokéCenter at CCGNews.com. Eventually Nick15 began posting his creations on his own website [[Pokémon Aaah!]], as well as instructions on how people can make their own. This system began to grow in popularity and was adopted by other sites, like [[Pokémon Zeo]]. Although image fakes are not nearly as popular as they were in the past, there are still plenty of people and sites who continue to promote them, like ''PokemonCardMaker.ORG''. At times these kinds of cards can be found on auction sites like eBay, sold by people who don't know that they aren't real cards to begin with.


==External links==
==External links==
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*[http://www.sugarshock.net/zeo/ Pokémon Zeo] The second ever Pokémon TCG fake card website, created by The Echidna and purity
*[http://www.sugarshock.net/zeo/ Pokémon Zeo] The second ever Pokémon TCG fake card website, created by The Echidna and purity
*[http://pokegym.net/forums/showthread.php?t=64968 Anatomy of a Fake Pokémon Card] Article at the PokéGym discussing how to spot a counterfeit Pokémon TCG card.
*[http://pokegym.net/forums/showthread.php?t=64968 Anatomy of a Fake Pokémon Card] Article at the PokéGym discussing how to spot a counterfeit Pokémon TCG card.
==References==
<references/>


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