Pokémon Trading Card Game: Difference between revisions

Line 7: Line 7:
==History==
==History==
[[File:JPCardback.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Original back of Japanese cards]]
[[File:JPCardback.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Original back of Japanese cards]]
The Pokémon Trading Card Game was originally published in Japan in October 1996 by [[Media Factory]]. While other Pokémon card series existed in the past (September 1996 - Bandai Pokemon Carddass Part 1 Green & Part 2 Red, regarded as the first ever Pokemon Card release), this was the first card game based on the [[Pokémon]] series. The first Pokémon TCG sets took inspiration from the then released {{game2|Red|Green|Blue}} video games and initially featured illustrations by [[Ken Sugimori]], [[Mitsuhiro Arita]] and [[Keiji Kinebuchi]]. Soon new [[List of Pokémon Trading Card Game expansions|expansions]] began to release with many new artists contributing artwork. Three years later in 1999, Pokémon TCG was introduced in North America by [[Wizards of the Coast]] with the {{TCG|Base Set}}, and worldwide soon after. In 2003, Wizards of the Coast's license was transferred to [[The Pokémon Company International]] by [[Nintendo]].
The Pokémon Trading Card Game was originally published in Japan in October 1996 by [[Media Factory]]. While other series of collectable Pokémon cards existed in the past (such as the [[Pocket Monsters Carddass Trading Cards]] released in September 1996), this was the first card game based on the [[Pokémon]] series. The first Pokémon TCG sets took inspiration from the then released {{game2|Red|Green|Blue}} video games and initially featured illustrations by [[Ken Sugimori]], [[Mitsuhiro Arita]] and [[Keiji Kinebuchi]]. Soon new [[List of Pokémon Trading Card Game expansions|expansions]] began to release with many new artists contributing artwork. Three years later in 1999, Pokémon TCG was introduced in North America by [[Wizards of the Coast]] with the {{TCG|Base Set}}, and worldwide soon after. In 2003, Wizards of the Coast's license was transferred to [[The Pokémon Company International]].


With the release of {{game|Gold and Silver|s}} video games, the ''[[#Neo Series|Neo Series]]'' (the second series of [[List of Pokémon Trading Card Game expansions|expansions]]), started bringing several [[Generation II|new Pokémon]] into play. The {{TCG|Metal}} and {{TCG|Darkness}} {{TCG|type}}s of Pokémon cards were also introduced, along with {{TCG|Light Pokémon}} and {{TCG|Dark Pokémon}}. These were eventually discontinued to prevent confusion with the {{tcg|Darkness|Darkness type}}, but returned briefly with the release of the {{TCG|Neo Destiny}} expansion. The ''[[#e-Card Series|e-Card Series]]'' used [[Game Boy Advance]] add-on [[e-Reader]] to display [[Pokédex]] data about the Pokémon, play a minigame, play various tunes in a [[Melody Box]], or activate a special attack for that Pokémon. The ''[[#EX Series|EX Series]]'' was released next (the first series released by [[The Pokémon Company International]] instead of [[Wizards of the Coast]]), introducing the stronger {{TCG|Pokémon-ex}} into the game. The ''[[#Diamond & Pearl Series|Diamond & Pearl Series]]'' brought {{TCG|Pokémon LV.X}}, which were stronger, "Leveled-up" versions of final evolutions. Pokémon LV.X essentially replaced Pokémon-ex and continued until the {{TCG|Platinum: Arceus}} expansion. The ''[[#HeartGold & SoulSilver Series|HeartGold & SoulSilver Series]]'' featured two more types of card, {{TCG|Pokémon LEGEND}}, two-part cards with one Pokémon on each card, and {{TCG|Pokémon Prime}}, Pokémon with powerful and/or tactical attacks. With the release of the {{TCG|Black & White}} expansion, {{TCG|Poké-Power}}s ({{DL|Appendix:Glossary (TCG)|Poké-POWER}}s and {{DL|Appendix:Glossary (TCG)|Poké-BODY}}s) were combined into one mechanic and renamed {{DL|Appendix:Glossary (TCG)|Ability|Abilities}}. ''Pokémon-ex'' returned as {{TCG|Pokémon-EX}} in the ''[[#Black & White Series|Black & White Series]]'' starting with the {{TCG|Next Destinies}} expansion. The {{TCG|Dragon}} Pokémon {{TCG|type}} was introduced in the {{TCG|Dragon Vault}} expansion of the ''Black & White Series''. ''{{DL|Pokémon-EX (TCG)|M Pokémon-EX}}'' were introduced in the {{TCG|XY}} expansion and introduce the [[Mega Evolution]] mechanic featured in the [[Pokémon X and Y]] video games to the TCG.  The ''[[#XY Series|XY Series]]'' also introduced the {{TCG|Fairy}} {{TCG|type}} Pokémon. {{TCG|Pokémon-GX}} was introduced in the ''Sun & Moon Series''.
With the release of {{game|Gold and Silver|s}} video games, the ''[[#Neo Series|Neo Series]]'' (the second series of [[List of Pokémon Trading Card Game expansions|expansions]]), started bringing several [[Generation II|new Pokémon]] into play. The {{TCG|Metal}} and {{TCG|Darkness}} {{TCG|type}}s of Pokémon cards were also introduced, along with {{TCG|Light Pokémon}} and {{TCG|Dark Pokémon}}. These were eventually discontinued to prevent confusion with the {{tcg|Darkness|Darkness type}}, but returned briefly with the release of the {{TCG|Neo Destiny}} expansion. The ''[[#e-Card Series|e-Card Series]]'' used [[Game Boy Advance]] add-on [[e-Reader]] to display [[Pokédex]] data about the Pokémon, play a minigame, play various tunes in a [[Melody Box]], or activate a special attack for that Pokémon. The ''[[#EX Series|EX Series]]'' was released next (the first series released by [[The Pokémon Company International]] instead of [[Wizards of the Coast]]), introducing the stronger {{TCG|Pokémon-ex}} into the game. The ''[[#Diamond & Pearl Series|Diamond & Pearl Series]]'' brought {{TCG|Pokémon LV.X}}, which were stronger, "Leveled-up" versions of final evolutions. Pokémon LV.X essentially replaced Pokémon-ex and continued until the {{TCG|Platinum: Arceus}} expansion. The ''[[#HeartGold & SoulSilver Series|HeartGold & SoulSilver Series]]'' featured two more types of card, {{TCG|Pokémon LEGEND}}, two-part cards with one Pokémon on each card, and {{TCG|Pokémon Prime}}, Pokémon with powerful and/or tactical attacks. With the release of the {{TCG|Black & White}} expansion, {{TCG|Poké-Power}}s ({{DL|Appendix:Glossary (TCG)|Poké-POWER}}s and {{DL|Appendix:Glossary (TCG)|Poké-BODY}}s) were combined into one mechanic and renamed {{DL|Appendix:Glossary (TCG)|Ability|Abilities}}. ''Pokémon-ex'' returned as {{TCG|Pokémon-EX}} in the ''[[#Black & White Series|Black & White Series]]'' starting with the {{TCG|Next Destinies}} expansion. The {{TCG|Dragon}} Pokémon {{TCG|type}} was introduced in the {{TCG|Dragon Vault}} expansion of the ''Black & White Series''. ''{{DL|Pokémon-EX (TCG)|M Pokémon-EX}}'' were introduced in the {{TCG|XY}} expansion and introduce the [[Mega Evolution]] mechanic featured in the [[Pokémon X and Y]] video games to the TCG.  The ''[[#XY Series|XY Series]]'' also introduced the {{TCG|Fairy}} {{TCG|type}} Pokémon. {{TCG|Pokémon-GX}} was introduced in the ''Sun & Moon Series''.