Nintendo is finally bringing the popular Pokemon video game series to the iPad. However, the version being ported to the iPad is not the much-loved monster-training and fighting version of the game.
The iPad will soon feature the Pokemon Trading Card Game, joining Wizards of the Coast's Magic: The Gathering and Blizzard's Hearthstone as popular trading card games that are available on the iOS tablet.
A picture of a working iPad version of the Pokemon Trading Card Game was first revealed in a tweet by Josh Wittenkeller.
"It looks like Pokémon TCGO is in works for the iPad! Should be a huge way to expand the game," tweeted Wittenkeller, along with the picture.
The picture was reportedly taken by Wittenkeller at the Pokemon World Championships, held In Washington DC.
With the release of the picture, The Pokemon Company has since confirmed that it is true. The Pokemon Trading Card Game Online will be coming to the iPad later on within the year.
Pokemon TCGO has been out for years, using the characters and monsters from the popular series as cards that players use to beat others in duels. It is free-to-play, with novice players eventually receiving new and better cards as they progress within the game and beat increasingly hard opponents. Players can also import cards into their profiles that they have bought in real life, or purchase cards directly from the app's store to include into their deck.
The gameplay of Pokemon TCGO pits two Pokemon trainers against each other. However, instead of the command-based duels in main Pokemon games, the player's Pokemon are represented as cards with unique abilities. Players also have access to cards that provide energy to the Pokemon to use their abilities, along with cards that either give them boosts or hamper the ability of their opponents.
One benefit of having the game on the iPad is that the player will be able to use the tablet's built-in camera to easily scan the QR codes that come with real-world purchases.
If the iPad will be getting the Pokemon TCGO, it is not a wild guess that an Android version of the game will soon follow, especially considering the huge advantage that Android devices have over iOS devices.
If Nintendo finds success with the release of the Pokemon TCGO on the iPad, it could result into even more Nintendo classics finding their way into iOS devices. This trend will help the company recover from lower-than-expected sales of its Wii gaming console and 3DS handheld gaming device.
No specific launch date for the game has been released.
