Localized TCG: After One Year

In all my recent reviews of conjectures for Pokémon Go from past years, there is something related to Pokémon games that I haven't reviewed. Approximately a year ago, the localized TCG for the place I reside in (Indonesia) was launched with great fanfare. And though several issues did accompany the launch, on the whole, the cards were received well, the tournament series started up, and I even tried to get in on the fun with something of my own for that. Being that a good time has passed since then, a review of how things have gone is in order.

Regarding their availability, this has improved quite a bit. At least two stores in my area, of the chain of convenience stores related to the entity that localizes the cards, have carried the cards for sale, so by now it shouldn't be a problem to find decks and/or booster packs to shape and improve decks. It may not be hard to find someone to play with, especially if one has the connections, but what may be hard is the process of making the most out of decks and booster packs, especially on limited budgets and/or time as well as the current situation (more on this shortly). That seems to be part of my problems, perhaps also coupled with the fact that I'm more receptive to the English cards rather than the local cards. They need to be rectified at the best opportunity.

And that's a perfect lead-in to the current situation. Recall that five months ago, everything ground down to a halt as things set in, and very little has been heard of since. One time, there was a community tournament conceived using TCGO, but other than that, there wasn't much else. At that point, there had been a few tournaments that resulted in a few champions, and everything was due to head into a big finish that would also coincide with the Pokémon World Championships (originally due for this month), but as can be guessed, everything got canned, including the local tournament series. A game like the TCG requires close contact - even more so than the main series video games - and it just wouldn't jive with the current situation unless the TCGO is somehow involved, which would mitigate things but perhaps not completely.

Thus, the state of the local TCG, keeping in mind the current situation, seems to be hard to be described. But if one description were to be applied, it would be that things have been "paused". The interest to play may be held back by limits on contact, card management, and chaos in general. Still, what can be discerned from the early run is that interest was high, with the tournaments having sizable numbers of entrants, and had the current situation not set in, it was likely to keep going and going until the big finish to the season, and then it would start all over again in the same way, at which point the local TCG would become rather ingrained and be a regular Pokémon thing, especially as part of the global competitive scene. At least this would be the conjecture.

At this point, the localized TCG is essentially "inconclusive" with the current situation not allowing much progress on the public level. On the private level, things may surely continue, but on a limited basis. After the hurrah of the launch and the fever of the local tournament series, it seems like such a waste to have everything held back by circumstances that are beyond control. Once things subside, it may then be time to regain control and take the localized TCG to places it couldn't before.

One year ago: Who's That...
Two years ago: Worldly Reverence
Three years ago: All in Good (Life)Time