Pokémon, once upon a time, was a friend in the dreams of children and a bright companion in childhood. Today, with the advancement of technology, it has been digitized and turned into countless cards, which are loaded into the so-called “Pocket Edition of Trading Card Game”. Players are keen on collecting and obsessed with fighting, but they may not realize that they are falling into a quagmire of modern desires.
At the beginning of the game, it was just pure play, bringing fun and laughter. However, behind the cards, there is an ever-expanding consumption mechanism. The rarity classification of diamonds and stars is not just a digital game, but also a precise calculation of people’s hearts. Those Charizard EX, Pikachu EX, and Mewtwo EX have undoubtedly become treasures in the eyes of players, but they have also become a weapon in the hands of merchants to drive consumption.
In the “Get Card Challenge” page, players throw virtual chips again and again, praying for luck. Behind the three points of challenge energy is the consumption of countless time and money. The visual effects of the enhancement pack are gorgeous, turning like magic, tempting players to go deeper into it, but also ruthlessly depriving real time and energy in reality.
Third-party platforms such as Treabar have become a bridge connecting players and capital. They provide so-called “safe” and “fast” deposit channels, but in fact make game consumption more convenient and more trap-filled. Players continue to invest money in pursuit of the illusory “perfect lineup” and “rare cards”, as if forgetting the pure fun that the game should bring.
This reflects the epitome of modern consumer society. The relationship between people and things here becomes simple and indifferent, emotions are kidnapped by money, and happiness is covered by desire. The interaction between players has become an exchange of data and numbers, and real communication and emotions have become increasingly indifferent. The virtual world has built a maze in which people are lost and unable to extricate themselves.
The design of the cards and the setting of the rarity are all the result of careful calculations. They stimulate the players’ comparison and anxiety, forcing people to continuously invest resources to try to fill the emptiness and anxiety in their hearts. As a result, games have become a new “spiritual shackle”, allowing people to seek a sense of existence in virtual wins and losses, but ignoring the essence of life.
Such games may not be as simple as entertainment. It reminds us to reflect: What are we pursuing? Is it victory in the game, or the meaning of life? Is it virtual satisfaction, or the reality of reality?
Only by recognizing the mechanism behind it can the game return to the essence of entertainment, rather than being led by capital. Players should stay sober, not be blinded by desire, and find their own balance between games and life.
Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket Edition is both a source of happiness and the entrance to a trap. We hope that players can treat this happiness rationally, not be confused by appearances, and protect the pure land of freedom and innocence in their hearts.