One Pokemon TCG Pocket Feature Could Be Headed Down a Slippery Slope

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As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of collecting Pokemon cards under my belt, I must confess that the latest mobile sensation, Pokemon TCG Pocket, has left me both impressed and perplexed. The game’s meteoric success is undeniable, with its engaging gameplay and visually appealing graphics capturing the hearts of millions worldwide. However, there’s one issue that has rubbed me the wrong way – the strict deck limit imposed on players.

Since its launch in late October, the mobile version of the Pokemon Trading Card Game (Pokemon TCG Pocket) has been a massive sensation, amassing over 30 million downloads within a month and generating an impressive $120 million in revenue. Today, it remains extremely popular and even earned a nomination for Best Mobile Game at The Game Awards 2024.

Although it’s been highly successful, there have been some bumps in the road with Pokemon TCG Pocket. Given that it’s a fresh take on an established game, it makes some adjustments to the original card game rules and alters the overall structure. One modification is causing discontent among players and could potentially lead to problematic developments for this mobile version in the future.

Dissecting Pokemon TCG Pocket’s Controversial Deck Limit

Pokemon TCG Pocket Features A Strict Deck Limit

Discussions on social media revolve around a significant constraint in the game Pokemon TCG Pocket, particularly the restricted number of decks a player can construct. In this game, players can craft a maximum of 15 deck configurations, and there’s no option to expand that limit. If they wish to invent fresh decks, they are forced to delete one of their previous creations in order to experiment with something new.

In the world of Pokemon TCG Pocket, players aren’t just bound by one restriction. They also find themselves limited in the number of cards they can include in their deck. Unlike traditional Pokemon Trading Card Game, where decks can house up to 60 cards, Pokemon TCG Pocket restricts this to a mere 20 cards per deck. This is primarily designed to foster quick, casual games with straightforward deck-building tactics.

Pokemon TCG’s Deck Limit Limits Creativity (And Balance)

Players have voiced their annoyance about the game’s deck constraint, finding it “unnecessary” and complaining about its restriction on overall gameplay variety. With fewer options for creating decks, players may soon find themselves running out of room, especially since deck sizes are relatively small. The Pokemon TCG Pocket currently contains 250 cards, which theoretically allows a player with all 250 unique cards to incorporate each one into at least one deck. However, as DeNA continues to add new cards to the game, players will find themselves quickly running out of space when constructing their decks.

In addition, it’s possible that players might need to employ the same card across various sets of cards, implying that even though a player has every distinct card in the Pokemon TCG Pocket, they may only be able to utilize a portion of them when developing decks. The decks can be created swiftly within the Pokemon TCG Pocket, so it won’t take long to reach the 15-deck limit. Unfortunately, this deck limit can disrupt the game’s equilibrium since players may need to discard their strongest decks to construct weaker ones in order to play with friends who are just starting out with the game.

Players have voiced their annoyance over the game’s limit on decks, finding it “irrelevant” and lamenting its impact on the variety and freedom in gameplay.

DeNA May Use Pokemon TCG Pocket’s Deck Limit To Monetize

The most concerning part of this deck limitation is what it could mean for Pokemon TCG Pocket’s future monetization practices. Speculation has mounted that, as more cards are added to the game, DeNA may use this current deck limit as a basis to lock extra deck space behind a paywall. This would force users to pay even more for an option that should be available to all players, which could alienate gamers and turn them away from playing the game.

It’s not apparent why DeNA has decided to implement these deck restrictions in Pokemon TCG Pocket. As the game continues to expand, the 15-deck limit appears to be a burden that will only make gameplay more difficult for players of all abilities. Here’s to hoping that DeNA takes the needs of its players into account and removes these deck limits, without requiring monetization as a prerequisite.

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2024-12-03 17:24