----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Joe & Colleen Cabral 
  To: brokaw@thepojo.com 
  Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 1999 7:19 AM
  Subject: question


  Did Wizards of the Coast create the Pokemon TCG? Is it similar to Magic-The 
  Gathering in how it is played? And do those games (Pokemon, Magic, etc.) 
  progress naturally to more involved games like D&D, etc.?
   
  Thanks for any help you can send,
  Colleen



Hi Colleen.

Wizards of the Coast (WOTC) has translated a Japanese game to give us the
Pokemon Trading Card Game (Pokemon TCG).  In Japan, this game was released
about 3 years ago and is called: The Pocket Monsters Card Game.

Pokemon TCG is VERY similar to Magic because they are both Trading Card Games.
But once you look closely at the play mechanics you will see LOTS of differences that
actually makes Pokemon TCG a MUCH different game.  (However, it is important to
remember that Magic was the first MAJOR TCG and many of the TCGs that have come
along after are modelled on the same basic principles.)

I really do not see TCGs evolving or even support Role Playing Games like D&D.
You may be confusing the two because they are produced by the same company
(WOTC).  However D&D is a "Role Playing Game".  RPGs tend to be much more
complex, with much longer games requiring much more imagination.  TCGs still
boil down to card games (don't get me wrong... TCGs are WAAAY better than standard
card games with poker-style decks, but the games tend to be short and very structured.)

PS: TSR (a division of WOTC, and now HASBRO) has developed a Pokemon Role
Playing Game and we hope to see it on store shelves late this year!

Hope this answers your questions,
Brian Brokaw