30 Years Later, Collecting Pokemon Cards Hits A Little Different

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Let me sound like an old for a second.

I remember in the late ’90s and early ’00s, collecting Pokemon cards was a casual hobby. You’d go to your local brick-and-mortar store with the money you made from mowing the lawn or whatever, drop maybe $10 on a couple of packs, rip them open, then go to your middle school to trade cards with your friends. No one knew how to actually play the game; the cards just looked cool, and everyone wanted something. Me? I wanted a holographic Charizard, and I would’ve traded literally anything to get my hands on such a rarity.

It was so low-key back in the day. Saying that grosses me out, as I sound like a Boomer or Gen Xer, but it’s true: Collecting Pokemon cards wasn’t that serious, and we didn’t put much stock in the cards, stuffing them in bags or pockets and watching them turn up in washing machines.

Now? Things are totally different. You can’t just collect Pokemon cards as a hobbyist anymore. You’ve got to fight with scalpers looking to make a quick buck off nostalgia, as well as the kids who are either getting into the TCG for