The Pokémon Trading Card Game Is Coming To iPad This Year

Incoming mobile game hate in 3...2...1...

ive never played the card game before but always wanted to see what it was all about and if its as fun as the games. maybe this will be an easy way to see if i would like the card game before i sink a bunch of cash into the cards. but i wish it was on the 3ds.

Nintendo goes mobile

And not the 3ds? Major bummer. Hopefully it'll go to Kindle as well but I doubt it.

It should be on the 3Ds

Is there not going to be 3ds/Wii U version? I know we have the gbc game but that one only has old cards.

@simonsskidor
Please don't even start. The Pokémon Company does as it seems. That's not equal to "Nintendo goes mobile". I can understand disappointment though.
Personally I agree only to "go mobile", when it's a way to reach out to more people - as a marketing instrument so to say. If Nintendo can suck out money of people who would ONLY do crappy mobile games anyway.. even better!

Keep in mind evryone that this is something made by The Pokemon Company, not Nintendo. When it comes to stuff related to the TCG or anime they are a bit more open to where they can advertise them. Any of the games stays on Nintneod consoles. Also this is TCGO, which has been available on PC for three years, and there is no IAP in this, you get more cards by simply playing or using codes you get in booster packs. I believe Nintendo doesn't allow that method to aquie stuff in-game, that is why we might not se this on 3DS or Wii U. Similair things like this has been going on for years, no need to panik.

It's a smart move, card games can really shine on iOS (tapping being the right control scheme, people there wanting fast experiences, etc.).

I just hope they'll consider a 3DS version, but I highly doubt... The card game on Nintendo console stopped with game boy color while on pc there have been recently an online community game and..gee... a whole decade ago there was a small single player pc game released as special edition with a real phisical deck.

They keep having around updated programs of the Pokemon TCG, but not seem they want to give a shot to build a game for Nintendo's console around it >.<;

This game is perfect for iPad!

@Xilef
Exactly. Although I would love to see a new pokemon TCG on 3ds, this is an experience that has already been available on PC... But why isn't this for android OS as well? (same with Hearthstone... I would love to play it on a mobile device but I only have android.)

It's not the first time Pokemon has been on iOS.

omg please tell me this is a joke.

Yeah, this pretty much doesn't mean anything. This isn't a Nintendo game after all, it's just a digital version of a card game, one that's already been playable on PC for the longest. Moving it to iOS makes sense for this kind of experience. If they were bringing Pokémon Red or Blue to mobile devices, then there'd be a problem, but this is a game that wasn't on a Nintendo system to begin with.

Funny, every person interested in the Pokemon TCG probably owns a 3DS to play..well, pokemon.
So their target audience is NOT on tablets and phones, its on the same system they release their other games for...

But at least its a game that more than fits on these devices. Its not some action title or something
So yeah, lets see how that goes.

They can bring this to tablets, no problem, but they should also release a Wii U / 3DS version.

I play this on PC, would love for it to come out on Wii U.
It would require online to play though, and I doubt my iPad 1 would run it.

bad news. make it for the 3DS instead! =)

@Einherjar But think about the children who prefer a tablet over a 3ds. If you ignore your experiente in games, tablets will appear as a much better choice.

Making them interested in the franchise is the best way to make them even try the main game. And this game fits really well this objective. Its easy and quick, you can chalange your friends even if they never played it.

And, for card games in general, the best experience is on tablets for sure. They should put on 3ds too though.

I think it sounds really cool, since this is a game that will actually play as good or better on an iPad. And it doesn't mean Zelda will be on iPad anytime soon.

Aww, no love for Android. Would love to see it on android OS.

@RennanNT Well, thats basicly what i said. Its a game that actually fits on smart devices.
The point is, their target audience is elsewhere. Most dedicated Pokemon fans who also play the TCG are "gamers" or even "hardcore gamers" if you will.
And you see the overall opinion on mobile game among them around here more often than not.

My question is: Where are the cross platform enabled Nintendo versions ?
Where is the Web Frameworks port for the WiiU ?
Its the optimal and most cost effective way. With cross play / cross save, this could be quite the hit. And if you want to go even further: How about integrating the 3DS games into it ? Start the WiiU app and transfer your X/Y OR/OS trainer profile. This would be the perfect opportunity for a cross promotion.

Since Nintendo co-owns Pokémon there won't be any shift ;d
Anyhoo, looking forward to this game. Hearthstone has been fun but it's time for some variation

@Einherjar And my point is that they are trying to extend that audience instead of cater to them.Hardly any TCG fan doesn't have already a 3ds for the main game. And I doubt they would buy a Wii U for it if there's one on 3ds.
Sadly Nintendo needs to gain interest from who never played Nintendo games or even its handheld might suffer next generation.

@steamtrain i wouldn't even spend time on a game like this. when i think of cards i would like to on to them while playing. just feels flat

@RennanNT But you wont get these people to try nintendo games with a TCG. Especially not with pokemon, since its one of the more complicated TCGs out there.
Even Magic is more accessable.
Also, its rather pointless to cater towards mobile gamers and hope that they will buy your consoles / devices. The mobile market is all about cheap prices. Even games costing 1€/$ are considered overpriced these days.
You will NEVER get them to buy a game for 40-50.

And no one said that this game is a killer app, a system seller to get people to buy a WiiU. Why would it be ? Its a neat side project at best.

we need one for the 3DS, with a soundtrack as good as the one on GBC and with more card clubs in it!

@Einherjar I'm talking about kids. Once they get interested in pokemon, they will go for anime and other games. Probably with a friend who has a (3)DS or use emulators for older versions. When I was a child, because of the anime, I even payed to a kid I knew for the emulator. Not much longer I asked a SNES to my parents.

Besides, you are just seeing the stereotype of mobile owners. Square Enix is selling games at $20 and they were (its been 1~2 years since I last saw the list) at top 10 on most lucrative at app store.
Half the world has a smartphone nowadays. I and all my friends who own consoles have smartphone (and buy games on it once in a while). That didn't stopped us from buying console games at full price.

Let's hope this doesn't mark a trend. I can see why this is coming to smart devices, but not while skipping Nintendo's platforms altogether. Also, with this game, people will have their argument to try and force Nintendo into releasing more app games... which means annoying spoiled brats will get even more annoying.
And, just to state it again: tablets (and mobiles) are NOT kids toys, and marketing them as such is one of the most disgusting ways of promoting their corrupting money pits. Only if you can sign the contract you should be allowed to own or even use one, period.

@RennanNT You cant compare kids back then to kids nowadays.
Also, about your friends: Thats the point. They DO own consoles.
If these kids only own smart devices, you will never get them to own another system just because tehy played one of thoousands of TCGs on this device.
Should this game come with a price tag, its even less likely.

It could be huge on ios. Anyone that's played hearthstone knows that a tablet is perfect for a card based game. No buttons needed!

@Kaze_Memaryu IDK, if Nintendo begins a TCG business for mobile platforms I'd be happy, smartphones and tablets have almost no good TCG games even though it's the perfect kind of game for those systems.
plus since Nintendo doesn't make these for its consoles anymore it'll be a good genre to put the limits between what people can expect in mobile and what's console exclusive.

hoping PKMN TCG gets android version

This is actually the type of game that can work on tablets. Unfortunately, I don't think I'd much care forbpaying for digital booster packs.

Magic the Gathering: Duels of the Planeswalkers have been coming to Playstation and Xbox consoles, as well as iOS, Android and Windows, for years now. There is simply no reason why this shouldn't also come to the Wii U. It would be perfect with the gamepad.

@Einherjar
It doesn't, all this is, is an ipad version of the online TCG you can already play on the official site for free. So its pretty much like those app versions of Facebook games, they're just making it a lot easier and more convenient for people to play.

It wouldn't be a bad idea for them to make the GTS accessible on mobile too. Imagine having been able to play the dream world mini-games on a tablet.

@Einherjar Kids nowadays also buy a lot o merchandise from their favorite cartoon, games, etc. They also ask things to their parents that they are interested. And, as I said, they won't buy a 3ds at first, they will borrow or emulate, and its then that they will be hooked.

My friends own consoles, but except for 2 of them, the last Nintendo they had was a decade ago or more. The only one planing to buy a 3DS, did that after he played Pokemon on his sister DS and regained interest on the series again.

And alone this won't change much, but its a good start, as long as kid find the pokemons cool, cute, funny, etc, they will be a step closer to try the anime, play other games and buy merchandises.

Nintendo should make mobile games where it makes sense to do so. This is a good example of where it makes sense, versus say a Mario platformer, where the game design and controls don't mesh / gel well with touch interface.

It's a shame cross platform tools like Unity3d don't generally have 3DS support, or it'd be much easier for developers to make a game from the outset that works on iPad, PC, Wii U and 3DS. Then there'd be none of this "Why is my favourite game coming to iPad but not 3DS when it'd be perfect for it?" I guess at this point in the 3DS lifecycle, it's not worth doing it.

On Wii U &/or 3DS, please and thanks.

@Einherjar The extra exposure can only be a good thing and I do believe it will lead to new audiences. In the past month I've spent more time playing Hearthstone than any other game. I previously had no interest in World of Warcraft whatsoever, but having been thoroughly sucked in by the tcg, I am planning on giving it a try. Absolutely the same thing can happen here.

Uh, why isn't it on the Wii U?! The one game that would make perfect use of the GamePad and increase sales of the Wii U, yet they release it on iPad!

Guys Pokemon Company isn't Nintendo. Pokémon Company is more or less and independent company, but in the end they answer to Nintendo.

If you had told this was gonna happen yesterday you would have been flamed by fanboys

I take it by some of the reactions here that people never played the TCG online for PC and Mac that's been on the official site for years.
I hoped for a Wii U version, but the 3ds? That seems Farfetch'd. Well as long as I don't have to use a mouse anymore to play and uses functional touch controls (lot of bugs on touch screen PC), I'm good.

@Einherjar If the Monster Hunter that is on iOS can be better than using a Vita (Which I believe it is with the controller designed for it) anything can action or not is irrelevant.

@unrandomsam Uhm, its the exact same game as the PSP one (There is no MH for Vita). How is it "better" in any way ?
NOTHING is more responsive than actual buttons.

This is probably the same game that's available on PC right now, which is almost more an accompaniment to the actual cards than a game in itself, so I don't really care if it comes to the ipad. It will probably do well there, and it's suited to a touchscreen. That said, if they bring it to the ipad, they should also bring it to the Wii U and, if possible, the 3DS. After all, just about every Pokemon fan has or will have the current Nintendo system(s) at some point.

What I really want, though, is a real TCG game like the Game Boy original, where you don't have to enter codes from booster packs to get cards.

Soooooooooooooooo is this Nintendo is DOOOOOOOOMED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Or is Nintendo "Saved"...nope clearly Nintendo is forever doomed all those great consoles (Gameboy Advance, SNES, DS, Gameboy, Gamecube) and games (Super Mario Bros, SMB3, Super Mario World, LoZ ALttP, LoZ OoT, SM64, Galaxy 1 and 2, Pokemon Silver and Gold, Super Metroid, Earthbound, Metroid Prime, LoZ WW, and on and on!!!!!!!!!) Didn't happen
(In all seriousness this isn't that big of a deal folks! Pokemon been on IOS before this isn't the end of Pokemon or Nintendo... so don't go OMG WORLDS ENDING!!!!!!!!)

I'm surprised Nintendo never followed up on the TCG released on GB with a GBA, DS and now 3DS iteration. Maybe this mobile version could be a stepping stone to that especially if there is cross-platform mulitplayer capabilities. Nintendo can even intentionally hold back features on the iOS version and promote them as exclusive to 3DS to drive sales to it.

If anybody is interested there is a PokemonTV app on android. Its officlly licensed by Pokemon, Gamefreak et al. So its not like Pokemon havent been available via an app before.

Does the PC web version of TCG work on tablets? If it does then this is all sort of a moot point anyway. My kids have a 2" stack of those cards for the online game but we never use them, they prefer playing w/ the cards.

IDK, just seems like a non-event to me. There should be apps for all websites, its the preferred method of bookmarking on a tablet, and thats basically all this really is.

Well.. so long as it stays with just the Trading card game.... Unless it's free though, I'm not gonna get it. I might have if it came to the 3DS instead, but that doesn't seem to be the case, so, y'know.

...it has begun.

Very smart move by Nintendo. It's a great way to expand the reach of the card game and the Pokemon brand without comprising their vision for the main series. Especially with the current popularity of card games.

I don't understand why some people are so emotional about the issue of Nintendo on mobile. This shouldn't be viewed as a "black or white" or "all or nothing" issue. If Nintendo believes they can offer a compelling experience on mobile, they absolutely should. A healthy business built on third party mobile platforms doesn't hurt their exclusive titles.

@justinluey People are more "emotional" it's not being released on other Nintendo hardware, actually. Try and justify that...

@simonsskidor It is not the first time it goes mobile.

Let The Games Begin My predictions were right about Nintendo, this game right here is a test to see if people will buy the Pokemon game & since Nintendo knows that Pokemon is more Popular then Mario. There to release this and it going to sell out like crazy then they start slowly putting there games on Mobile Platforms. So this is what Nintendo wants to do. Instead of markerting there stupid home-console, (so) they do this instead. I'm not going to sound like I'm complaining here. But that's the truth this is a TEST to see if they get good reactions from the game. (& they will) This is one of many reasons that people (gamers) don't respect Nintendo. Now I understand why they do talk so much trash about Nintendo. Its right out stupid.

Shame on Nintendo & the Pokemon Company for doing this.

@yuwarite Who said it wasn't?

Plus, it can easily be justified. Nintendo's reason for not rushing to mobile is because they don't think they can create great experiences on the current hardware and they are worried about devaluing their games.

A card game is obviously perfect for a touch screen device, and it doesn't devalue the Pokemon brand or the main series. If they feel they can create a quality experience on 3DS and Wii U, I'm sure they will.

@rjejr Lol, but that's a video app not a game. That's understandable.

@justinluey Lol, I'm not being rude or anything but that's just a test to see if the game sells well so they can put other games of Nintendo on moblie-platforms.

@kereke12

Sorry, but your post makes no sense. So "people (gamers)" don't "respect" Nintendo because they aren't on mobile or because they are considering it?

Your entire premise is flawed, because Nintendo is probably the most respected company in the history of the industry. Some people criticize them for not being on mobile, but many respect them for not releasing watered down ports. In many cases mobile ports hurt the reputation of the game and drive down the value of the game.

In a perfect world, Nintendo will continue to build unique hardware and release exclusive games for them, and at the same time release quality apps on mobile.

I hope this comes to android...

lol, everyone freaking out over this. You seriously think Nintendo themselves will start making mobile games because of this? xD

I would sooner play this on my iPad than a 3ds, it has a much bigger screen that's better suited to something like this which needs a fair amount of info to be displayed at once.

Also they probably saw how popular Hearthstone is on iPad and figured it'd make sense.

That's about the most reasonable thing Nintendo could make for iOS. Good staying power, broad appeal, and very low development cost.

That's cool, but it should also be released on Wii U and 3DS...

Well, that's it...Nintendo is over.

lol j/k...but next year they will be....and if not, then the year after that or the year after that...sometime within the next decade...and if not by then, within 25 years...and I can still claim my prediction came true if Nintendo isn't doomed by 2135.

@justinluey I said, justify why it isn't being released for other Nintendo hardware... Where's the evidence that it's going to be released on Nintendo hardware?

@Xiao_Pai What is that mobile company Nintendo bought doing ? (Out of interest ?). Specs are not important but nice hardware is. (In terms of being nice to use. Not feeling like a cheap toy).

@SanderEvers But cheap and nasty hardware or nice hardware (I would always go for nice hardware. On a retina ipad anti aliasing seems to be longer needed).

@yuwarite Where is the evidence that it's not? History isn't a guarantee, but it's usually a pretty good indicator. I'm betting that it will be.

For years I've thought a spiritual successor to Pokémon Trading Card Game and Pokémon Card GB 2: Here Comes Team GR! would be fantastic on the Nintendo DS or 3DS. It seems as though the closest we're likely to get to a new installment on DS is the Learn-to-Play software included in the Japanese BW Hajimete Set +.

As for the iPad software, if it really is a portable version of the TCGO, then awesome! I'm all for it!

I think this is the best way they could go on mobile. It's not taking anything away from their platforms since the Card Game does not exist there anyway and it's something simple and something meant for touchscreen. And YES, I'd much rather play this on my Ipad then my 3DS or Wii U. I often pick up the ipad for 5 minutes to play a round of Hearthstone and then check emails or Facebook.

Screw ipad! This should be coming to the 3DS! I've been asking for it for so long.

Apple is the COMPETITION! Pokemon is the only platform that such a high majority of casual gamers spend money on! If the Pokemon Company begins selling Pokemon games on the iOS, then soon enough, no casual gamer would want to buy a Nintendo handheld except for the small children for games such as Mario or... err... the movie titles. ^shivers^

By the way, why hasn't America seen a Trading Card Game released on any Nintendo gaming device since the GBC? If anything, they should release this game on the 3DS first, give it a cheaper price, and then send it off to the iOS. Or... give the iOS version in-game purchases after releasing the game on the 3DS, when it'll have all of the packs unlockable with "digital money" from winning against the CPU or online.

@SethNintendo
Wow a lot of information, thanks Seth.
To me at least it's hard to understand, are all the 3 companies owners of Pokemon brand? Or Nintendo it's the onwer but share the control with "kind of" subdivisions?

@yuwarite
For all the reasons the free games on the official site aren't, because thats all this is. Its not really a 'full' game per say, more like a companion app/simulator for the TCG. The TCG hasn't really been tied to the rest of the franchise or even Nintendo at all (beside being Pokemon), so I don't see what needs to be "justified" about it. We literally got 2 TCG games 13-14 years ago, thats it.

I'm happy for ipad owners, but I would LOVE LOVE LOVE a new Pokemon Trading Card Game version for the 3DS.

best design ever

WTB another 4-6 hours in my day to play this, plus everything else I'm already playing o.O

So Nintendo gets Red, Blue, Yellow, TCG, Gold, Silver, Platinum, Snap, Colisseum, Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Pearl, Gold remake, Silver remake, the GC game, Pearl, Black, White, Trozei, Rumble, Rumble U, Black 2, White 2, X, Y, Ruby remake, Sapphire remake and (potentially) an Emerald remake but one Pokemon game on iOS is inconceivable?
The Pokemon Company isn't Nintendo. It's an entity like Nintendo. It's merchandising characters, whether on cards, in games or on TV.
Think of Atlus. Same thing. They make ALOT of Nintendo exclusive games. But there's Atlus games out there that will NEVER make it out on Nintendo systems. Think of Sega. Same thing. Point is, at one time, a game like this would have been on Nintendo's system. But the 3DS has been flooded with Pokemon. They'd be competing with other Pokemon games on the same system!
Stupid!
The iOS is the iOS. The 3DS is the 3DS. BOTH platforms can exist, and simultaneous at that. Nintendo fans just get uppity because of the experience they get from mobile games. But that's what they're aiming for. Whoever expects hundreds of hours (even dozens of hours) of deep, fulfilling gameplay from their phone needs to have their head examined.
Good for the Pokemon Company for finally showing good business sense and developing an experience different from the traditional title and yet still true to theircreation.

Even with @SethNintendo's information, Game Freak is a developer that makes games exclusively for Nintendo (but not first OR second party) and licenses The Pokemon Card Game to external parties like Takara Tomy (in no way a first or second party company).
Let's look at it this way: Mass Effect 3 released for the Wii U, not Mass Effect Trilogy or both games. Why? Mass Effect 3, on its own was cheaper to port than 3 titles (3 titles that would have sold for the same price) and because Bioware didn't want the same series competing against itself.
If they would have waited, sales would have been diminished for ME Trilogy, due to the seperation in release dates.
The NFL's Monday Night and Sunday Night games receive the highest viewership ratings. Why? Those games aren't competing against other NFL games.
People talk alot about inter system competition, but realistically, the match is decided before the players take the field.
90% of consumers will NOT buy an 3DS, because it's not a phone. They can't browse Facebook or take stupid pictures and post them on Instagram. Their TMZ fix is limited and Twitter is basically non existent.
Just like 90% of people won't buy a camera now.
The 3DS is bigger and does less overall.
It costs money, not credit.
It's a lump sum and general consumers like making payments.
It might not be a worldwide thing yet, but North Americans seem to love debt.
And Americans love being in debt and never paying it off.
The REAL Pokemon games will NEVER not be on a dedicated gaming unit.
FACT.
But if 90% of consumers are an untapped market, why not port a useless PC app and try and get something out of it?

Trading Card Game was out on PC about a decade ago wasn't it? I'm sure I had a disc that came free with something that had a version of the game playable on it.

It's about time- I think this is a smart move, the RIGHT move. We needn't minimize the situation by pretending Pokemon isn't really Nintendo. It's Nintendo. And even if it wasn't, it will be PERCEIVED as Nintendo anyways. But that's not a bad thing, it's a good thing.

I would like to see touch-based puzzle games (think Pushmo World or Pokemon Battle Trozei, even Dr Luigi) come to iPad. Smaller games well suited for iPad play. Games like that are the kind of games that make new fans. And that's exactly what Nintendo needs more of.

@SahashraLA Game Freak would technically be "second party" if they make games exclusively for one company, but is independent of said company

While I normally hate mobile games ith a passion, I'll make an exception for this one (if it comes to Kindle Fire, that is). It's a good way to increase interest in the franchise, and the vomits little kids who only play on iPad might get interested in buying a 3DS/Wii U for more Pokemon.

@Shade_Koopa Exactly my thought.

Why the heck isnt this for wii u?

The first full Nintendo game on ios?! NOT GOOD!!!

Please also release this on Wii U and 3DS, AND make it crossbuy. After having bought a 3DS I'm really feeling the cross-buy dilemma.

I don't even have an ipad, and I want to play this, but I have both Nintendo's consoles. Oh the irony.

Uh, its already on the 3DS as far as I know.