Pocket Monsters.. The yester-years

Growing up in the 90s, Pokémon was a significant influence on me. My introduction to Pokémon happened at a friend's house when I spotted a gaming magazine. On the back, there was an advertisement for a new anime called "Pokémon." I didn't pay much attention to it initially, but a few weeks later, the first episode aired on CheezTV.

I recall waking up early to watch the first episode and seeing the Game Boy-style opening with Gengar and Nidoran. At the time, Pokémon was fresh, and no one at school knew much about it. My best friend started recording every episode, and I fondly remember visiting his house to watch them with his brother. My favorite episode was Island of the Giant Pokémon.

Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow were the games everyone wanted to play. I saw a commercial on TV featuring a bus driver trying to cram Pokémon onto a bus. The morning I visited my friend's house and saw him playing Pokémon Blue was unforgettable. I watched him catching Pokémon and battling trainers, and I was hooked.

I had to borrow the game, so I offered my friend all my SNES games for a week in exchange for borrowing Pokémon for a day. I was desperate! I took the Game Boy cartridge home and played as much as I could. The next morning, my friend showed up early, asking for the game back. I wasn't happy.

Within a month, I managed to get my own copy of Pokémon Red Version, which I still think is the best version. Saving up every dollar to buy the game was exhilarating, and playing it nonstop meant my parents got me an AC adapter so I wouldn't keep running out of batteries.

Ah, the Trading Card Game – I remember one ordinary evening, popping over to my buddy's place only to spot his stash of Pokemon cards. My reaction? Well, let's just say it was a mix of astonishment and excitement that can't be accurately conveyed in words. He had just 11 cards from a booster pack, but each one was a miniature masterpiece. From the intricate artwork to the strategic move lists, I was hooked instantly. And of course, I wanted them all.

As Pokemon mania swept through our school, it became a daily ritual for me and my friend to arrive early, armed with our decks, ready to trade before classes began. Every corner of the school seemed to buzz with excitement as kids proudly displayed their cards, whether wrapped in rubber bands or neatly organized in card folders.

In school the game wasn't played by the rules. It was more like a chaotic version of 'War' – whoever had the strongest card claimed victory and got to keep the other person's card.

My 12th birthday came around, a milestone marked by the arrival of my first deck of Pokemon Cards. Like many others, I opted for the starter deck featuring the holographic Machamp. It was a classic choice, but it only fueled my hunger to collect more.

But with popularity came pitfalls. Theft and deception became all too common, leading to the inevitable – a ban on all things Pokemon at our school. Yet, even as official disapproval loomed over us, the Poke-craze persisted, thriving in the shadows of the school bike shed where the older kids congregated.

Despite the challenges, my love for the Trading Card Game endured, a testament to the enduring magic of Pokemon.