It’s been over 20 years since the first Pokémon TCG cards
were released, giving fans an exciting way to play and interact with Pokémon.
The Pokémon TCG: Celebrations expansion contains Pokémon, moments, and
gameplay mechanics spanning the game’s decades-long history. We spoke with
Creatures Inc. Game Director Atsushi Nagashima to learn more about the Celebrations
expansion.
Mr. Nagashima has been involved with the Pokémon TCG since
2001, working to develop the playing environment through game system and
gameplay mechanics. We asked him about the evolution of the Pokémon TCG, key
Pokémon, and mechanics in the Celebrations expansion, as well as how
this expansion serves as a connection between the game’s past and future. This
is what he had to say!
With so many years of memorable cards and gameplay
mechanics, how did you go about selecting what to feature in the Celebrations
expansion?
Mr. Nagashima: We looked back over 25 years of
Pokémon history to carefully select characters from all regions of the Pokémon
universe. We knew we wanted to create something special for all our fans,
whether they are new to Pokémon or are long-standing collectors and players. In
addition to popular characters like Pikachu and familiar faces such as
Professor Oak, we also selected iconic cards from the history of the Pokémon
TCG, such as Base Set Charizard, Umbreon ☆, and Tapu Lele-GX. From Light Pokémon to
Delta Species (δ) Pokémon,
there are all sorts of cards to discover in the Celebrations expansion.
We think players will be very excited.
Do you have a favorite card within the Celebrations
expansion? If so, why is it your favorite?
Mr. Nagashima: It’s Mew.
With the Celebrations expansion, we wanted to create something that not
only celebrates Pokémon history, but also connects to the present and future of
Pokémon. Mew’s illustration was created by Yuu Nishida, who won first place in
our first Pokémon TCG Illustration Contest in 2019. Nishida played with Pokémon
cards as a little girl. Now, as an adult, she has reconnected with the TCG
universe as an illustrator. It’s a card that embraces both the history and the
promise of Pokémon.
Click image to enlarge
What is the overall goal of the Celebrations
expansion within the broader context of the Pokémon TCG?
Mr. Nagashima: The goal of the Celebrations
expansion is not only to celebrate the history of Pokémon, but also to connect
to Pokémon’s present and future.
Celebrations is a chance for long-standing players
and collectors to revisit familiar cards and memories, or even to get their
hands on special cards they missed in the first edition. Also, it provides a
great opportunity for younger fans to encounter the rich history of the Pokémon
TCG, to see how it has evolved, and the direction it is taking.
When working on this expansion, which looks back and
celebrates the Pokémon TCG’s past, what fresh inspiration did you discover for
the future of the game?
Mr. Nagashima: The Celebrations expansion includes a range of Pokémon from different
regions. While creating the expansion, we revisited many different past cards
and spoke with the team members. Together we reflected on what the game
environment and tournaments first looked like and how people used to play with
the cards. Game logic in the Pokémon TCG has varied, but what does that mean in
terms of the cards? Are they fun and exciting? Creating this expansion was an
excellent opportunity to take a critical look back at Pokémon history.
The Celebrations expansion revisits historic Pokémon
TCG play mechanics. Which of these mechanics is your favorite and why?
Mr. Nagashima: I’d have to say Pokémon-GX. In
the heat of the moment, GX Attacks could change the whole flow of the
game and really spiced up matches. Although it’s a fairly recent mechanism, it really
added something new and dramatic. Pokémon cards have a long history, but I
think GX Attacks did a lot in terms of evolving the game.
Many thanks to Mr. Nagashima for sharing his insights into
the development of this expansion. Get more details on the Pokémon TCG: Celebrations
expansion now.
Source: Pokemon
