Pokémon Competitions Attract Local Fans

Every Saturday morning, two dozen kids fill the back room of Scotch Plains’ Little Shop of Comics—but comic books are the last thing on their minds. They are Pokémon Trainers, and they’ve come for one reason only: to battle their Pokémon in a weekly, head-to-head TCG (trading card game) competition.

The Pokémon franchise first took the U.S. by storm in 1998, and the craze is still going strong over a decade later. The popular TCG is played by millions, and Steve and Lena Olsen’s independent comic book store is the only official League site in Scotch Plains/Fanwood sanctioned by Pokémon’s parent company, Pokémon U.S.A.

“Leagues are another option for families to have fun,” explained Steve Olsen, who has owned the business for 14 years. “The purpose is to learn, improve, and play the game. Pokémon is the entryway for kids to get into card games. They start out playing Pokémon and usually move on to other TCGs. The resurgence of the Pokémon phenomenon is partly due to older kids passing it down to younger siblings.”

Olsen’s Pokémon League is a three-hour, weekly event, free of charge. The players typically range from 8 to 14 years of age, but all are welcome. Each player brings his/her own cards and attempts to knock out an opponent’s Pokémon by reducing its hit points. Players can challenge anyone in the room—but they must follow Olsen’s “Code of Conduct”: no yelling, running, cursing, or card selling allowed. Card trading is permissible as long as it’s fair to both parties. Every week, players start over with a fresh slate and new battles to face.

Olsen must report attendance and player names to Pokémon U.S.A., but he does not pay a licensing fee for providing League services to local players.

“Pokémon U.S.A. is the best in the industry for supporting both the retailer and the fans,” Olsen said. “Every year, they introduce new cards, a video game and a TV show. They also give us materials to give away, which the kids love. They want to keep the game relevant to their players.” 

Periodically, Little Shop of Comics also hosts official Pokémon Tournaments, which cost $6 at the door. Tournaments are competitive, but more structured. Usually players will battle three rounds, and then the top eight players advance to single elimination matches. Winners receive prizes, such as free game mats and packs of cards. Pokémon U.S.A. offers local, regional, and national tournaments.

“Pokémon’s nice because sometimes the parents play with the kids in the tournaments,” Olsen said. “Half of the Pokémon judges are parent volunteers who receive points from Pokémon U.S.A., which they can redeem for products.”

In addition to Pokémon, Little Shop of Comics hosts several other official leagues, tournaments, and in-store events, including Yu-Gi-Oh! and Magic: The Gathering trading card games, as well as a Board Game Night.

Trading card games are big business. The strength of your deck depends on the specific characters you have. Depending on the game, card packs include 9-15 cards each and retail for $3.99. However, single cards can run as high as $40. A “good” deck of cards can cost hundreds of dollars. But it’s not just the cards that win the match. Players must know when and how to use them. 

“Coming here is fun because you get to play, and you get some free cards. Plus you get to go to tournaments,” said 10-year-old Elliot Sayles of Scotch Plains. “Sometimes you don’t know what your opponent has in his deck and it’s fun to try to figure it out.”

Plainfield resident Paul Chisholm, age 14, agreed.

“As a little kid, I had a lot of cards, but I didn’t know how to play. I went on the site and learned, and now I play all the time," Chisholm said. "Now enough talking. Let's battle!"                          

Little Shop of Comics

393 Park Avenue, Scotch Plains

908-322-9402

www.littleshopofcomics.com

Pokémon League: Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., free. All ages, but typically 8-14 yrs old.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Tournament: Saturdays, 1:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., $6 entry fee with prizes. All ages, but typically 12-18 years old.

Magic: The Gathering Tournament: Fridays, starting at 6:30 p.m., $6 entry fee with prizes. All ages, but typically teens/adults.

Magic: The Gathering League: Saturdays, 2 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., free.

Board Game Night: Fridays, 6 p.m. - 10:30 p.m., free. All ages, but typically adults.