Demo Game (TCG)

Demo Game
Demo Game Booster Pack.png
Booster pack
Expansion Base Set
Release date December 1998[1]
Types used LightningFightingGrassFire

The Demo Game[2], also referred to as Demo Game for Two Players[3], is an introductory booster pack designed for two-player use with the intention of teaching newcomers how to play the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Demo Game was the first English-language Pokémon card pack produced and released by Wizards of the Coast, marking the earliest instance of Pokémon cards being introduced to the United States.[4]

Each booster pack contains a fixed set of 24 cards and Demo guide rules that explains the rules and basics of the Pokémon Trading Card Game.[5]

Information

Demo Game booster packs were not available for purchase, but were distributed in various ways to promote the Pokémon Trading Card Game both before and after the official release.

In December 1998, certain retailers and game stores received Demo Game booster packs and others were given away at Magic: The Gathering trade shows.[1][4] Even after the official release of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, some of the booster packs were still being distributed as part of the Pokémon Trading Card Game Tour, a Wizards of the Coast promotional program designed to teach newcomers how to play the TCG during its first year of release.[4][7] Lastly, the booster packs were also given away at E3 1999 to promote the game to convention attendees.[1]

Blurb

This Pokémon Demo Game is your entry into a world where people just like you train to be the number-one Pokémon Master in the world. It contains everything you and a friend need to learn the basics of the cool new Pokémon trading card game. Do you have the skills to become the world's number-one Pokémon Master? Master the Pokémon trading card game and find out!

This pack contains a two-player Demo Game guide and 24 ready-to play tradable game cards.

Deck list

Quantity Card Type Rarity
Doduo Colorless Common
Pikachu Lightning Common
Machoke Fighting Uncommon
Machop Fighting Common
Potion T Common
Lightning Energy Lightning E
Fighting Energy Fighting E
Nidoran♂ Grass Common
Ponyta Fire Common
Charmeleon Fire Uncommon
Charmander Fire Common
Switch T Common
Grass Energy Grass E
Fire Energy Fire E


Player deck lists

As the Demo Game booster pack is designed for use by two players, the deck within is intended to be divided between them. The Demo guide rules included in the booster pack lists which cards are intended for each player's deck.[8]

The First Deck[8]
Quantity Card Type Rarity
Fire Energy Fire E
Grass Energy Grass E
Switch T Common
Charmander Fire Common
Charmeleon Fire Uncommon
Ponyta Fire Common
Nidoran♂ Grass Common

The Second Deck[8]
Quantity Card Type Rarity
Fighting Energy Fighting E
Lightning Energy Lightning E
Potion T Common
Machop Fighting Common
Machoke Fighting Uncommon
Pikachu Lightning Common
Doduo Colorless Common

Gallery

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Front of the booster pack

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Back of the booster pack

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Trivia

  • Despite being distributed before the official release of the Pokémon TCG, the cards inside are not labelled as 1st Edition and instead printed as normal.[1]
    • In addition, none of the cards are exclusive to this deck, nor do they have any defining characteristics that set them apart from regular Shadowless cards.[4]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Factory Sealed 1998 Pokémon Demo Game Pack". ThePokeNest. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  2. Wizards of the Coast, Inc., ed. (1998). Demo guide rules. Wizards of the Coast. "Where Do I Go from Here?" section.
  3. Wizards of the Coast, Inc., ed. (1998). Demo guide rules. Wizards of the Coast. "What Do You Need to Play?" section.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 thecardpletionist (June 13, 2017). "Pokemon B.B.S : Before Base Set. FlipSide Gaming. Archived from the original on May 21, 2023. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  5. Luxury Ball Collectibles (March 25, 2017). "$300 Pokemon booster pack". YouTube. Archived from the original on March 25, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  6. "Pokémon Trading Card Game Tour". Wizards of the Coast, Inc. Archived from the original on January 16, 2000. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  7. "Pokémon Trading Card Game Event". Wizards of the Coast, Inc. Archived from the original on May 8, 1999. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 Wizards of the Coast, Inc., ed. (1998). Demo guide rules. Wizards of the Coast. "Deck Lists" section.



Project TCG logo.png This article is part of Project TCG, a Bulbapedia project that aims to report on every aspect of the Pokémon Trading Card Game.


Pokémon Trading Card Game expansions and releases
Bold indicates a main expansion. Italics indicate a special set. Releases that are entirely composed of prints from other releases are small.
Original Series
Wizards Black Star Promos
Demo GameTrainer Deck ATrainer Deck B
Base Set: 2-Player Starter SetOvergrowthZap!BrushfireBlackout
Jungle: Power ReserveWater Blast
Fossil: BodyGuardLockDown
Base Set 2: 2-Player CD-ROM Starter SetGrass ChopperHot WaterLightning BugPsych Out
Team Rocket: DevastationTrouble
Gym Heroes: BrockMistyLt. SurgeErika
Thunderstorm
Pikachu World Collection 2000
Gym Challenge: SabrinaKogaBlaineGiovanni
Original Era
Unnumbered Promotional cards
Expansion Pack: Starter Deck
Pokémon Jungle
Mystery of the Fossils
Rocket Gang
Expansion Sheet 1Nivi City GymHanada City GymExpansion Sheet 2Kuchiba City GymTamamushi City Gym
Leaders' Stadium
Expansion Sheet 3Quick Starter Gift SetYamabuki City GymGuren Town Gym
Challenge from the Darkness
Southern IslandsIntro Pack