Ever since these pocket monsters debuted on February 27, 1996, when the original Red and Green launched on Game Boy in Japan, I’ve been hooked! I didn’t get into the trading card craze right away, and I have no regrets. But when I decided to go searching for card products, I found nothing. According to Reddit and various reports, like the one at OpenCritic.com; resellers (aka scalpers) are ruining the fun. They took “Gotta Catch ’Em All” and turned it into a business plan.
Not even my local comic shop or games shop has enough to keep up with demand. Yes, I’d like to get a few of these cool cards that those lucky people managed to find, but am I willing to wake up early to camp out or visit a store at opening just to gamble on the hope of finding some? I think not. I realized that since all I want is to actually play with them, there’s an easy online solution: buy digital packs of Pokémon 30th Celebration!
As for physical ownership, I’m not going out of my way for it. The fun is gone. Some people thrive on the thrill of waiting in line, and I get that. However, when you’re last in line and the clerk says they’ve sold out, the day is ruined
Before the age of the Internet, collector communities only had each other to brag to about their haul. As a young nerd, I chased nearly everything under the sun, from Star Wars figures to comic books to movie trading cards. Getting an alternate exclusive is sweet when it’s low effort. Case in point: a full box of Terminator 2 cards was not guaranteed to contain a single #1 card. I had to buy two just to get it! The Death of Superman had many people speculating, and DC Comics responded by printing far more than needed so that everyone could get a copy. Back then, nobody had to wait in line or ask if a popular item could be reserved.
These days, I understand the appeal of waiting to obtain sealed product or a special promotion, or just talking to people around you about that new release. It’s more of a party line-up than anything else, and those types of events are good. Special midnight launches can be fun when turned into a spectacle to make that wait invisible. But if it’s just standing out in the cold, it’s not like those Boxing Day sales of yore, where items throughout the store are discounted and shoppers can still come out with a pot of gold. With trading cards, though, these slabs of cardboard can depreciate.
I won’t go down that rabbit hole. Sure, I get why some people want the cards, and more power to them since they’re willing to pay the premium. But for those looking to enjoy this franchise for what it is, there are other options to consider.
I don’t have to buy cards to celebrate Pokémon 30th Celebration, either. The Pokémon Store has other merchandise and apparel to show off the love, and I picked up a tee. That gesture makes much more sense as a way to express my appreciation to the world. Plus, I know the Team Rocket wannabes are losing out, and The Pokémon Company has more to gain. In the end, Blissey will smile because you’re not playing the scalpers’ game.
Pokémon 30th Celebration
