According to a freshly released casting call, a new reality show involving the Pokémon Trading Card Game is currently in the works.
Per the Anime News Network, The Pokémon Company International posted a casting call seeking gamers of all ages and their families to sign up for an opportunity to join the new show. "The Pokémon Company International is currently searching for energetic, personable candidates of all ages and their families for an exciting new opportunity," the casting call read. "Whether you are trying to learn the Pokémon Trading Card Game to connect with your loved ones, hone your TCG skills to get to the next level, or are already a competitive player, we would like to hear how a Pokémon TCG expert can help you!" Currently, casting is limited to Los Angeles and the surrounding area.
Gotta Collect 'Em All
Reasons or a general concept for a reality show remain unclear, but it might have something to do with the massive resurgence the franchise has seen in the last year. Many experts believe the COVID-19 pandemic increased interest in the Pokémon Trading Card Game, with huge sales leading to retailers often selling out of stock. The frenzy over the TCG even led to some criminal behavior, with companies like Target pulling Pokémon cards from its shelves after multiple altercations between customers and even one where a customer pulled out a gun on another.
Even stranger and more outlandish behavior continued in the wake of the Pokémon TCG fervor. Last year, a McDonald's Pokémon-themed Happy Meal promotion, which included 50 collectible cards, spawned a Black Market solely for the set. Some fans even got creative, such as one that stole $250,000 worth of Pokémon cards and merchandise after tunneling into a Minnesota game store. With so much intensity surrounding card collecting, The Pokémon Company ramped up production on its product, ultimately releasing over nine billion new cards in 2021.
"It's definitely a big deal and shows a reaction to the situation that happened back towards the end of 2020, in terms of the general consumer getting cards," Pokémon expert and Serebii webmaster Joe Merrick said while discussing the increased card production. "Pokémon [trading cards] hit the mainstream again and people were buying up all the stock, not necessarily for the right reasons, and it was near impossible for people to get any of the new products. It was a nightmare for the general consumer."
There is no word yet on a possible release window for the Pokémon Trading Card Game reality show.
Source: Anime News Network