30 years after Pokémon's release, fans are still trying to collect them all

Описание: (27 Feb 2026)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
City of Industry, Calif. - 25 February 2026
1. Various exterior signage Frank & Son collectible show
2. Wide doors opened for collectors to enter to buy Pokemon cards, collectors rush in
3. Wide angel collectors entering show
4. Close Pokemon signage
5. Johnny Gagne, General Manager, Frank & Son Collectible Show:
"When you buy this stuff and these old Pokemon cards, these toys, it brings you back to a time of life when we played. So that right there brings you joy. I tell people, you don't have to play with it. You just buy it, you put it on your shelf and you look at it, it's gonna bring a smile to your face. How could you not go on with that? You know, it's like a time of life when things were great. I remember my dad used to tell me, you better enjoy this time of live. Because when you get older, it is a different world. And it is different world, but getting a little of this brings you back to that old world."
6. Various Pokemon cards in packs on display
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Adam Corn, Overdose Gaming Inc:
"Yeah, Pokemon, I think it's just a game that brings everyone together. I mean, I see a lot of families, it's something to do, you know, I've seen kids starting to play and they grow up, they have kids, they pass it on, it has something to do with their family. And just a sense of community, like everyone's really awesome, you get to meet amazing people playing. I've made some of my best friends playing cards and, yeah, I mean I'd say just community is a huge part of it. And besides that, I mean the cars just look awesome. They're fun to collect, some are really rare, expensive, and you get really attached to them."
8. Various Pokemon cards
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Adam Corn, Overdose Gaming Inc - on what makes a card valuable:
"So some of them are just extremely limited quantity, so you'll have cards that are their only one in the world, five in the world, ten in the world, you know, whatever it
may be. And usually based off that is, you know, what determines the price. There's even card, and condition on cards, a lot of the old stuff like base up Pokemon shadow list, all the really popular old stuff. Nobody, we didn't take care of that stuff when we were kids. So it's really hard to find it in gem mint premium condition because we played with them. I had them in my lunch box and traded them at school. So I would say another huge thing is the condition of the cards. It's very hard to fine them in good condition nowadays for the older ones. So I'd say condition and just quantity in existence in general."
10. Various show displays
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Adam Corn, Overdose Gaming Inc:
"You know, I have invested a lot in holding cards for the long term, you know, that's a big part of it. I mean, people like to buy one of the newest booster boxes and throw them in their closet for a couple of years and you know you go find it later and you realize there were three or four times that amount. So I would say, yeah, just Pokemon almost always appreciates in value over time. So it's just a really good place to put your money in my opinion, better than a a lot of other assets that... That I could see. And yeah, it's funny you mentioned about the house. That is how I bought my house was off Pokemon cards. Luckily, I was able to buy a house in California last year off our business."
12. Various of cards on display and customers buying
13. SOUNDBITE (English) Daniel Martinez, Domino City Gaming:
14. Wide Martinez talking with customer
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Daniel Martinez, Domino City Gaming:
16. Medium Pokemon cards on display
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