Shortly after the launch of the Pokémon TCG Pocket’s trading feature on January 29, the developers are already revisiting its design due to overwhelmingly negative feedback from players. The community has voiced frustration with the restrictive nature of the system, prompting the developers to look into potential improvements.
The Current Trade System and Issues
The trade system in Pokémon TCG Pocket allows players to exchange cards, but with several limitations. For example, players can only trade cards between 1 and 4 Diamond rarity or 1 Star rarity. To trade cards with higher rarities, players must dismantle other cards to obtain enough Trade Tokens, all while managing Trade Stamina.
The trade process requires dismantling cards—such as four 1 Star rarity cards to obtain the 400 Trade Tokens needed for a transaction—leading to widespread dissatisfaction. The community quickly voiced their displeasure, calling the system “a joke” and criticizing it as a major flaw in the game, which many viewed as one of the most important features.
Developer Response and Potential Changes
In response to the feedback, the Pokémon TCG Pocket team thanked players for their comments and promised to improve the system.
The developers explained that the strict trading requirements were initially put in place to prevent abuse by bots and ensure fair play by discouraging actions like multiple account manipulation. However, they acknowledged that these restrictions have made the feature less enjoyable for many players.
The development team confirmed that they are actively working on solutions to make trading more accessible and enjoyable. One of the changes being considered is improving how players earn Trade Tokens, possibly by increasing the amount of tokens obtained from dismantling cards and adding additional ways to earn them through event distributions.
Player Suggestions for Improvement
In light of the issues with the current system, players have suggested several improvements. A popular request is the ability to request specific cards from friends, rather than relying on chance when offering cards for trade.
Additionally, players have suggested the removal of the friend requirement and the implementation of a feature similar to the Global Trade Station (GTS) from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl. This would allow players to offer a card in exchange for a specific one, opening up trades to the global player base.
Conclusion
The response from Pokémon TCG Pocket developers indicates they are listening to player feedback and are committed to improving the trading system. With the community eager for changes, it remains to be seen how much the system will evolve and whether it will better meet player expectations in the future.
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