Update: Today sees the release of Pokémon Trading Card Game Battle Academy, an adaptation of the Trading Card Game that The Pokémon Company describes as an "easy-to-learn and fun-to-play board game".
The product can now be found at participating physical and online retailers all around the world. TPCI senior director of consumer marketing, J.C. Smith, has shared the following in a press release:
"For more than 20 years, the beloved Pokémon Trading Card Game has connected people across the globe over their shared love of collecting cool cards, trading them with friends, and playing the official game. With Battle Academy, we are excited to give families a fun and accessible way to spend quality time together while bonding over something both kids and longtime fans of the franchise adore: Pokémon TCG cards."
More details can be found at the official site and in our original article below.
Original Article (Mon 1st Jun, 2020 14:45 BST): The Pokémon Company International has today announced the Pokémon Trading Card Game Battle Academy, a board game adaptation of the iconic Pokémon TCG.
The game is said to offer "fun family entertainment, combining strategic Pokémon TCG gameplay within a classic, easy-to-learn family game experience". Each Battle Academy box comes with a two-player game board, three 60-card decks, tutorial guides, and accessories, as well as a code card which can be used to play the Pokémon TCG online.
J.C. Smith, senior director of consumer marketing at The Pokémon Company International, has shared the following in a press release:
“Battle Academy is designed to be easy to learn and fun to play for all types of Trainers, including children and parents that may be new to the Pokémon TCG. Pokémon has a unique ability to bring people together, and we look forward to seeing families enjoy Battle Academy at their next game night, as parents bond with their kids over one of their favourite entertainment brands and collectible Pokémon TCG cards.”
We won't have long to wait, either, as the new game is set to launch worldwide on 31st July 2020. It'll be "widely" available at retailers both online and in-store.
Like the sound of this? Do you think you'll pick up a copy when it launches next month? Share your thoughts with us below.
Comments 35
So like, a starter deck bundle of sorts? It looks like they aren't real decks.
I wish I could see what their cards looked like. I'm a little curious.
I hope this is good. Not that I'm a lifelong fan of Pokémon, but I like the idea of a board game that strengthens the appeal of Pokémon rather than just cashes in on it.
Pokémon board game sounds fun but this seems to be more or less just the TCG. And don't get me wrong, I like the card game but I can already play it. I was hoping for something different.
If this rewinds the game back to how it played around Base Set through Team Rocket, this would be far better than the mainline TCG itself.
Oh what a nice surprise! I absolutely loved the Pokemon Master Trainer board games back in the day.
EDIT: Nevermind... Leave it up to NL. It's not a "board game" at all, just a glorified playmat with Pokemon TCG decks. Cool for the people who play the TCG though!
Anyone remember the pokemon master trainer board games?
Kinda pointless if it is 2-player only.
A little hestitant untill we get more information about it... still, it could be a nice way to introduce my boy to the pokemon games
It's not a board game. It's a TCG Product with a playmat and easy to learn pre-constructed decks. Essentially an access tool for new people to play and learn the game.
**Edit** From Pokebeach at the beginning of May
"As you can see, it’s based on the “Pokemon TCG Family Box” that was released in Japan on March 15th, 2019. The product was intended to teach families how to play the Pokemon TCG through three decks each featuring two Pokemon-Gx"
For anyone confused it's this product but in English - https://m.bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Family_Pok%C3%A9mon_Card_Game_(TCG)
If this is compatible with all the other cards, then I'm in.
Edit: nevermind.
This is a very poorly titled article. It's not a new board game, just TCG training kit with 3 decks.
This is basically a bunch of TCG starter decks. This is nothing like a board game. Made me really want something like Master Trainer again. I'm a big tabletop game buff
How is this different than the TCG?
@BabyYoshi65 it's not. It's a tool to learn the TCG. They just didn't research it.
@spideyroxas So... it’s not “a board game adaptation of the iconic Pokémon TCG”? It’s not even a board game?
@BabyYoshi65 No its not the TCG adapted into a Board Game that the article suggests, its literally a 3 deck starter kit, the 'board' is a two player playmat with the zones marked (Active Pkmn, Bench, etc)
@spideyroxas Welcome to Nintendo Life, the epicenter of misleading article titles haha.
I just do not understand why they wont bring the TCG online app to Switch. Or release something like the old Game Boy game.
Cost is the main reason I can't get back into the TCG. I'm just not willing to spend hundreds of dollars on cards and travel that you need to be able to play the TCG. It adds up so fast.
But I'd be more than willing to play the TCGO if they brought the game to Switch and supported cheaper digital packs.
Or they could release a stand alone game like the old Game Boy titles that is based on older formats - so as to not compete with themselves. Yugioh has had several video games and it's never destroyed their IRL crowd.
@Heavyarms55 : I quickly lost interest in TCG Online because it got wrong everything that the GBC game did right.
What made the GBC game so appealing is that you can amass a collection of cards, including the rarest of the rare, without enduring the real-world expense (and space) that it would require. I have nearly 16,000 in my 120 hour save file.
Fat chance building up even a small fraction of that in the grind-happy jumbo transaction nightmare that is TCG Online. I gave it a chance, but I would much rather play the GBC game instead. I would absolutely LOVE a successor to the GBC games that contain the modern cards (though I would love it even more if they brought back the classic cards as well), but I can't see that happening any time soon.
@Kalmaro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkCldG17q1c&t=497s a great video shows all of whats in decks and box. a great set help kids play and the board looks cool
@danemord thats why i bought it weve started playing it with kids as they keep harrassing me for pokemon cards. but its a great starter set. Also the TCG online is great for learning the rules yourself
Hmm
Intersted...
I'll watch a review online and see if it's worth 25 bucks.
Where can you just get the playmat/board? I don't care much for the decks, but having a board to play on would make the game easier to teach.
@Anguspuss Honestly, I'm pleasantly surprised. It's not a bad deal, from what I can see.
@egervari they have the mouse pad type mats for two players but they are around double price for this set. if you buy one of the theme decks they come with a quality paper board full colour and the tokens. they are also great for teaching kids. not two expensive. but this set still a better deal
@Kalmaro plus costs less than two theme decks and has three decks and the board looks ace. i was going get the mouse mat two player one but here its double the price of this set.
Really thought it be a great board game, oh well, is a good thing I love Pokemon trading card game to this day and the play mat alone is enough for me to get this =
Wait we can actually play with those?
Man. Getting a complete collection of the actual cards would be a dream. There's so many. Not something I can start on these days though.
As for the board game, not sure if I'd want to pick that up. Maybe someday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=j2_-4Mc9gU4&feature=emb_logo a good video showing set and basic play
Here is an idea why doesn't the pokemon company port Pokemon TCG Online to Nintendo Switch? It seems crazy given that it works on android tablets. I do think if they were to port it they should make a new version of the online UI (because it sucks). But I am sure Pokemon company could find a good developer to do since Direwolf Digital seems incapable of doing it.
I downloaded the TCG for Gameboy this Christmas and absolutely loved it. But getting the physical cards always seemed way too expensive to start collecting.
Hope this brings the full experience, can't wait to play that with friends!!
@Anguspuss that's great! Thanks for sharing your impressions, it helped me to finally decide to get the game
@danemord no probs. if your going teach kids as well DL and play the TCG online game its great to help you learn most of the rules as well.
Got mine from uk today. Coould got local but my german aint good enough for pokemon. Great set nice game board. 3 decks are all sorted guide you through first game. and comes with a code redeme on online game to use decks online.
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