I caved recently and bought some yokai watch merchandise. It seems to have enough momentum to make it into the US, so why not?
Here’s my understanding so far:
There is a TCG - which apparently sells well, but doesn’t seem to have a lot of hot auctions on YJ.
There also seems to be a second card set, which have QR codes on the top right and are used for an arcade game.
The medals, which are just coin-sized toys, sell like crazy - these seem to be where the rare promos are, and their QR codes can be scanned for the ds game/read on the Yokai iPad/Pokedex.
If you aren’t sold, here’s a picture of my favorite Yokai Steve Jaws (that’s actually its name):
I was thinking about buying some of these cards, not so long ago actually.
But I’m not sure if I really like the cards design (yeah, I’m a Pokemon fanboy).
I think that if I’ll start watching the anime then I’ll get into it more and maybe I buy some cards then.
About two months ago I bought Yokai (Youkai?) Watch’s storage boxes because they were super cheap, about 100 yen each, now they’re even cheaper - only 50 yen each.
Also I see that there’s Vol.1 Booster Box available for only 1500 yen on AmiAmi but I don’t know nothing about these tcg so I don’t know if it’s a good choice?
Yeah - I couldn’t tell you from what I’ve seen for the TCG. I tried very hard to even find some form of organized tournaments on the websites, but I don’t quite know enough any Japanese. I’m definitely going to buy an intro pack and some boosters. Once I get a chance to try playing the game with a Japanese dictionary, I can give a recommendation on that aspect of the craze
However, Hasbro (owner of our dear WoTC) is supposed to start the toy line in 2016 in tandem with Viz on manga and another on TV. Perhaps they can work some TCG magic?
What do you mean when you say that you got storage boxes? Would it be something comparable to a Pokémon deck box?
Well, maybe! I doubt it’ll be as sucesfull as Pokemon was back in 90’, there’s too many cool things to collect/play for kids right now But we will see!
EDIT: I just thought that maybe I’m wrong because it made such a huge succes in Japan… hmm
I also read it is coming to the US in 2016. I think it will be big, maybe never as big as Pokemon or Yugi-oh but that is probably a good thing. Last weekend I was at an anime convention and only 1 dealer had anything Yokai watch. (I want the plush cat creatures). Guess they are waiting till it is over here to sell stuff.
I just watched a few clips of the anime, and what I saw was very funny. I’m just going to invest in a few early Japanese sets and see where it gets me . Updates to follow!
I wish I could have more faith in a surviving CCG/TCG, but I suppose I’ve just seen too many flops now to hold onto that kind of dream.
Seems there’s room for digital card game/collecting to grow however. Hearthstone has done just fine. And the TOPPS Star Wars Card Trader app is extremely active/successful, even with serious issues almost every week since its debut.
I love that you brought the flops up. I just bought an old Scyre’s guide to TCGs from 2003, which said there were ~200 created from 1993-2003. It’s crazy to think about how difficult it is for TCG’s to get traction. The business side of the TCG world is fascinating stuff! As for digital card games, Pokémon’s is the only one that I’m familiar with at all . And, from what it looks like, Yokai doesn’t seem to have any scan/digital capabilities with its TCG.
I was in Japan 2 months ago and Yokai watch is HUGE over there. It’s even bigger than Pokemon. It’s all over the place. But I think it won’t be this successful in the West. Because some Yokai games for 3ds are allready released in the west and basicly nobody knows anything about them. So a TGC would be even less successful imo.
But we will see!
. Updates to follow!
. And, from what it looks like, Yokai doesn’t seem to have any scan/digital capabilities with its TCG.