I lived All Pokémonit’s been 30 yearsso I watched 90s Pokémania descend into the modern scalper culture it has embittered millions and put those remaining in a constant state of vigilance. Maybe because I was so young when Pokémon In the beginning, I still have a lot of joy and fantasy attached to the series, but it’s been pretty tragic to see the light leave the eyes of our collective consciousness when we see the little yellow guy because scalpers have turned the whole thing into a get-rich-quick scheme. There’s something dark and funny about hearing that PokéBeach was talking to a child at a recent card show and the boy told them he didn’t know much about Pokémonbut he had started flipping the cards after seeing influencers say it was a good investment right now. My inner child cries for this kid who fights and hustles instead of fighting to earn his eight badges.
PokéBeach relayed this anecdote as part of a report according to which Pokémon will prohibit partner sellers from selling ranked tiles at its official events, as well as from selling items over $1,000, as well as Japanese Pokémon Center plushes and cards that are not yet available overseas. The Pokémon Company won’t make an official announcement, but the rule will go into effect this weekend at the regional championships in Indianapolis and will also be enforced at the Pokémon World Championship in San Francisco in August. We’ve reached out to The Pokémon Company for comment on the situation and will update the story if we receive a response.
The fan site also talks about meeting an 11-year-old named Rob at a recent card show, who told them he hadn’t played the games or watched the anime. Instead, he recounted his experience with Pokémon was much less fanciful: “I just turn the cards over,” he said. PokéBeach. “I don’t know much about Pokémon.” He went on to say that TikTok and Instagram influencers taught him that Pokémon the cards were “the best investment of the moment”.
Phew. It hurts. Obviously, not every child should grow up enjoying the same things I did, but it’s sad to know that there is a generation of children who might end up mostly associating Pokémon with the scalper nonsense that has plagued the series in recent years, rather than the adventures and friendships that defined it for decades. Young people no longer care about the joys of “comfortable shorts” and the power of friendship, only the resale value of the cardboard. Go outside, little king. Adventure awaits outside the seedy corners of the internet, which are ruining this series for everyone.