The Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) has become a global phenomenon since its inception, but its origin story and the development of its prototypes are intriguing aspects often unknown to many fans. The first glimpse into the early stages of this
development was publicly shared by Takumi Akabane on his Instagram from the 26th of February 2021 & onward. These prototypes showcase a fascinating evolution through six to eight stages, depending on what changes you consider, revealing the meticulous process behind crafting this iconic game. Akabane and Kouichi Ooyama are believed to be the creators of the Pokemon TCG game while Mitsuhiro Arita joined the team later. Arita brought the Pokémon’s to life through in the form of illustrations through iconic designs . Let’s dive into the most obvious iterations of these early versions of our beloved Pokémon TCG.
Alpha and Beta Prototype Cards (1995)
From what we know and the information is continuously being learned (will be updated as know more) The initial prototypes, referred to as “alpha and beta prototype cards,” were created according to information sourced from Marco/Akibane around 1995. These cards were rudimentary and minimalist, printed in black and white with poor printer quality. The artwork was simplistic and sprite-like, embodying a minimalistic design. It’s believed that only 26 different cards were produced in this
stage, and they were likely created for presentation to Nintendo.
Playtests Alpha and Beta
The prototypes evolved into what were known as “playtest alpha and beta” cards. This stage aimed to refine the gameplay experience, focusing on the rules, strengths, and general balancing of the game. Visually, these cards underwent
significant changes—they were now colored, featured more text, and displayed minor graphical enhancements, making them look more like the Pokémon cards we recognize today.
Presentation CoroCoro Cards (June 1996)
The following stage was marked by the “presentation CoroCoro cards” in June 1996. CoroCoro is a popular magazine in Japan, and these cards provided readers with a sneak peek at what the final product might look like. These cards closely resembled actual Pokémon cards but featured different artworks and backgrounds for the Pokémon characters. During this stage, Mitsuhiro Arita was hired to develop the energy symbols, which became iconic elements of the game.
Arita Mitsuhiro’s Contributions
Beyond creating the energy symbols, Arita Mitsuhiro began illustrating some of the most memorable Pokémon artworks.
Many of his illustrations were later included in the first official Pokémon TCG set, known as “Base Set, No Rarity.” His contributions were pivotal in defining the visual style of the game, helping to establish the enduring appeal of the Pokémon TCG. The mere sight of a Pikachu or Charizard card can trigger a wave of emotions, reminding enthusiasts of the joy and camaraderie these cards brought into their lives.
No Holographic Prototypes
An interesting note about these early prototypes and playlets: none of them featured holographic cards. This characteristic, which would later become a beloved aspect of the Pokémon TCG, was not present in the initial development stages.
The Pivotal Role Of Protypes In Pokemon TCG Development
The development of the Pokémon Trading Card Game involved a detailed and iterative process, from the simplistic black-and-white alpha and beta prototypes to the more refined and colorful playlets and presentation cards. Each stage was a step towards perfecting the gameplay and visual appeal, leading to the globally beloved game that fans enjoy today. Safe to say that Pokemon and its creators took the time to really build what we love and value in the world of collecting.
This article was created for historical and historical purposes only. As a way to document and keep a Chronicalized Data that allows the world to keep learning more about these cards as we continue to learn more as well. The article will be updated periodically with new information that comes to light*Content and information sourced from Marco Flamethrower a.k.a (Marco_anime_collection on instagram) /Akibane*
Special Thank You
-Thank you to everyone who contributed to uncovering more about the ongoing early versions of the Pokémon trading card game.
-Thank you to Takumi Akabane for posting some of the material
-Thank you to @Marco_flamethrower on Instagram for his research & sourcing the material
-And thank you to everyone who contributed in uncovering more and more about this topic and continue to do as we learn more, if it’s the people who started to authenticate these incredible cards or the auction houses who provide a platform.
I had no idea about this I actually would love to have some of these prototypes but probably never will haha thank you for educating me 🙂
Great information!
Amazing to see all of the historical reveals over the last couple years!! Its so awesome to see where this hobby began and take a look at some of the very first cards ever made!!