1996 saw the introduction of the Pocket Monster - or Pokémon, as it is better known - series in Japan. That means that next year is the 20th anniversary of the birth of the franchise, and to celebrate this milestone fans will be able to purchase the very first base set of Pokémon cards - in Japan, at least.
The set will include 60 cards, a manual and coin. The cards will be identical to the original print run, and launch in Japan on February 27th, 2016.
This isn't the only way that Pokémon's birthday is being celebrated in 2016 - as we've previously reported, Nintendo is releasing special 2DS bundles, and the original games are coming to the 3DS Virtual Console, too.
[source polygon.com]
Comments 27
Nice and all, but isn't this seriously impacting the value of the original print? Or would there be a clear way of distinguishing the reprint?
Man those cards get me nostalgic... Why oh why did angsty-teenager-me sell my cards to random kids, UGH!
Sooo... fat Pikachu?
According to Pokebeach, none of this is confirmed and it was not stated exactly what is being printed in this deck. This may not be a base set reprint. As of now, it is only a rumor until more information is released about this. http://www.pokebeach.com/2015/12/rumor-control-base-set-is-not-confirmed-to-be-reprinted
@Slaz I don't know about the Japanese ones but there's no way they would make total reprints of the original cards in English. The dates and company info on the bottom at least would be changed, since the cards are no longer printed by Wizards of the Coast. Printing new card products with the Wizards info on them might not be legal...So with different information on the bottom line, the "reprints" if that's what they are will be distinguishable from the original base set.
@Jordie
As a matter of fact, fat Pikachu is getting a plush.
http://www.play-asia.com/the-original-pikachu-releases-as-a-plush-for-the-pokemon-20th-anniversary/5f/746pp
Comes out mid-January 2016, I have it pre-ordered.
I love everything game freaks doing apart from the FREE to play Pokémon GO as I'm a little worried it'll be a bit of a pay to win scenario please feel free to prove me wrong gamefreak! But all in all I just want a new game, maybe it's the fact we've all been lucky enough every year to get a new game recently. But I'm hoping with the fact we didn't get one, that a big and awesome new main series game is on the way and that they're not replacing that with GO! Especially as it's the 20th anniversary I'm just hoping something good comes out of it for the 3ds apart from the neat VR releases!
I've got a full set of first editions for the first 5 or 6 sets. A shame they're worth so little, though. Even the base set isn't worth much compared to a certain other TCG.
This will only really be for collectors (such as myself) as these cards are so underpowered compared to what the cards are today.
Never got into the card game but wow TPC is going all out!
There is so much misinformation regarding this product. It is likely that old cards are not getting reprinted at all; this product is called "BREAK starter set" - which does NOT imply reprints in any way. In all likelyhood, the cards in this product will be all new while the packaging is old. Also, card sleeves with the old card back are being released around the same time as this product.
I seriously might buy them again... So damn nostalgic.
I can smell them now...
@Slaz I don't really think Nintendo is worried about the value of cards on eBay...
Awesome. I used to collect the cards as a kid, and I am tempted in getting these.
Love those first few sets, never got to actually play it though since I lacked the attention span to learn them when they we're actually still a thing. And nowadays (and I guess back then too) Magic is just a far better card game in just about every way possible.
I have played the Gameboy Pokemon TCG game recently though when it released on the eshop and it was pretty fun.
Kinda cool, they should make them amiibo cards that you scan into a F2P Pokemon card game on Wii U & 3DS.
Pokemon cards, brings back so many memories.
Woot. I needed another dozen oddishes.
@Tsurii Ah yes, that would make sense! And I forgot that Wizards used to print them, as I haven't got Pokémon cards for at least over 10 years. I gave them away to neighbouring kids. But I just know original first sets have some value on eBay. So, this reprint would be unlikely to decrease that value as something as simple as a year mark makes them totally different in the collector world, just like the first print of a book.
@Tsurii Well, if we really wanted to dig further...
This picture or this picture as well
Edits: adjusted the code and links.
That image has a very real impact on me even all these years later. Still got my complete set!
@Slaz Don't forget, they introduced a "Base 2" set with the exact same cards but with a Base 2 marking along with a "Legendary" set that was the same but with a mix of different sets under the "Legendary" mark.
Apparently none of this is confirmed yet. Just speculation and premature hopes
@DoctorOverbuild Yeah... I play Pokemon RumbleWorld sometimes but progression is painfull slow without payments.
Not only is this news at least 3 months old, it's also completely unconfirmed.
Don't trust Polygon, everyone. They'll steer you wrong.
Other than releasing Super Mario Maker--which, let's face it, was just a new Mario game release that was always on the cards and not really specific to celebrating Mario's birthday--I don't think Nintendo really did much special to celebrate Mario's 30th. Or at least that's how it felt to me.
With Pokemon, however, I'm already a lot more impressed with that its doing: We have the re-print of the classic cards (or something to that effect), the re-release of the three original games on 3DS Virtual Console (with slightly updated online implementation for the modern hardware too), and those awesome looking, semi-transparent, coloured 2DS systems.
So far, it's looking like a great birthday for Pokemon.
My daughter would have loved this for Christmas! Hope it comes to NA.
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