Pokémon trading cards getting free browser-based game

If you're a fan of the Pokémon trading card game, get ready to take it to the next level - an official online version of the head-to-head card battle adventure is on the way.

Pokémon Trainer Challenge will be a free browser-basedgame in which players can choose pre-constructed decks and compete against opponents online. Some of these decks will be direct copies of upcoming theme decks for the real-life Black & White card sets coming out this spring.


Above: FLARE ANGRY! FLARE SMASH!

Everything looks to be faithfully recreated, including the card mat, prize card layout, and even coins. It is the first time an official online version of the card game has been produced.

This isn't the first Pokémon TCG video game entirely, though -there was another version for the original Game Boy. As someone who played through that, I thought it was a pretty faithful representation, and liked the RPG aspect of it. This online game won't feature the same adventure or story as the Game Boy title, but it is nice to see another game based on a card game based on a game.


Above: The avatar creator, apparently collectively designed by every Facebook game developer ever

Trainer Challenge is "coming soon," and will be playable at www.pokemontcg.com.

[Source: Pokemon.com]

Feb 16, 2011