Seems like Nintendo is finally creating a way to play Pokémon TCG online.
Now, this sounds like a great thing to us older fans, because...
1) We can finally play the TCG against other people, like kids, without looking like a pedophile
2) We all have fond memories of Pokémon Trading Card Game, the Game Boy game that had you battling computer players with Pokémon cards, with practically every single card available (that was released in America at the time)--plus some others.
Now, as for the reasons it's going to suck.
1) You have to buy preconstructed decks of the upcoming Black & White themed expansion to unlock the deck in it.
2) You can't build your own deck.
Of course, one way to fix this is to win cards after you win a match (a la TCG). That way, it's beneficial to play against multiple people. Flood the system with free virtual booster decks often so everyone wins. Appeal to the older players by releasing "retro cards" (remember the Fossil expansion?), and add in music. This music will feature rockin' music from original (maybe). And add in CPU players, too. And an offline playing feature.
Alternatively, they could just eschew all of that and release a brand-new Pokémon TCG game for the Nintendo 3DS. It would be a re-boot of the original game, with brand-new characters, hundreds and hundreds of cards (from Basic to Black & White), and all possible with the 3DS, with its rumored 8GB storage capacity. Fight your way through dozens of battles, only to find your most challenging foe at the end of the game: Mark, the guy from the original Pokémon TCG
It would be awesome, but unlikely. Let's face it, for all Nintendo is concerned, everything Pokémon from 2003 backwards is dead, ancient history. That was when Ruby & Sapphire came and made irrelevant Generation 1 and 2. And that was wrong.
1) Actually, this just one way to unlock new cards. There are going to be much more "free" ones, from constructed decks to single cards, which leads as to 2).
ReplyDelete2) That's not true. Although we don't know many things about TCGO yet, it is most likely that you will be able to make your own deck using any card you have available, however those are obtainable -- as implied from the fact that you "win new cards.
All in all, it can be free for someone that wants to play it for free. But you may get some goodies if you purchase some cards. For someone that was getting cards and making decks, although playing was quite rare, this is a great opportunity. You won't have to spend a fortune to make a good deck, and you will be able to play with a MUCH larger range of players. ;)
As for:
It would be awesome, but unlikely. Let's face it, for all Nintendo is concerned, everything Pokémon from 2003 backwards is dead, ancient history. That was when Ruby & Sapphire came and made irrelevant Generation 1 and 2. And that was wrong.
That's a very old, irrelevant, resolved story, my friend. Nintendo has of course not forgotten about the older games, which are basically still on the scene.
Red, Green, Blue and Yellow have been remade and spot-on through FireRed and LeafGreen, in the most faithful and unimaginable amazing way! On a similar manner, Gold, Silver and Crystal have been remade to HeartGold and SoulSilver -- what applies to FRLG, applies to them!
As for the incompatibility issues, that was a huge (albeit reasonable because of the mechanics) problem and letdown back then, but with FRLG and HGSS -- no longer is it. RGBY and GSC are basically compatible with the newer games now. And with the 3DS Virtual Console on the corner, I'm sure that we'll even be able to get a taste of the classic (and best, if I may!) games that started it all as well, sooner or later!
Hopefully, you'll get a bit more positive as time passes. :P
Generation I and II still hold a very special place in my heart, something that FRLG and HGSS will never resolve. Despite their many new features, that is. Furthermore, FRLG and HGSS, from what I've heard, made a number of changes I don't think I would be happy with. But that's just me.
ReplyDeleteI was mostly talking about cards, when TPCi took over cards, they basically erased everything prior to EX Ruby & Sapphire.
I do intend on being a bit more positive!
Generation I and II still hold a very special place in my heart, something that FRLG and HGSS will never resolve. Despite their many new features, that is. Furthermore, FRLG and HGSS, from what I've heard, made a number of changes I don't think I would be happy with. But that's just me.
ReplyDeleteYou're not alone in this, friend! RGBY and GSC are special in every way. The connectivity is not an issue in carrying on what you feel about the games, and the practical side of its lack is resolved with FRLG and HGSS. I don't think there's any problem anymore, now that both games have been remade. We can play the classics, and we can also connect our Kanto and Johto games with all of the rest versions!
Also, just to note, and please don't see this on the wrong way, "from what I've heard" tells me nothing. I think that you should save your judgement for after playing the games. :) To me, both FRLG and HGSS were not only excellent games, but also excellent remakes.
I'm not a purist, but I have a lot of nostalgia about the old games, and trust me, if the remakes managed to be "unfaithful", or had changes that would ruin the whole experience (including anything that comes to remembering the classics), I'd know it.
You should probably see it for yourself, and if you base your experience to anything as true to the essence of the games, in contrast to details and mindless counteraction to additional content, I'm sure you'll perfectly enjoy both of them. And in all honesty, neither of games have made an essential change in the games' myth.
Any changes in both games are of "additional" nature, and in extension (i.e., not in alteration) to the original content. There may be a few exceptions to that, but none for bad. If there's one thing that initially annoyed me in HGSS that would merely be the replacement of Kris, the Pokémon Crystal female protagonist, from Lyra. Thankfully, if you're observant enough you may see a, probably, very interesting reference that changes this nuisance! Plus, Lyra is a completely different character. Either way, I'm not spoiling anything to you; go play the games!
As for: I was mostly talking about cards, when TPCi took over cards, they basically erased everything prior to EX Ruby & Sapphire.
That's not entirely true. You're free to use any cards you want for battles with your friends, or at local Card shops. :)
If you could say that they ever "erased" something, that wouldn't have to do with the EX series. It's a common policy, and every year, the permitted sets that can be used in official leagues (i.e., Play! Pokémon) change. Anymore, there are even Diamond & Pearl series' sets that can't be used -- even Platinum, I believe.
But this is the thing with official Leagues... And there are much bigger problems -- like, for instance, the usability of ubers in the Play! Pokémon leagues. But that still doesn't prevent you from having battles with the rules you prefer. ;)
Anyhoo, just be positive, like I said. :P